A few weeks back My Partner, her daughter and i did the famous Tongariro crossing. Its not far from where I live, but generally there are too many people walking it for my taste, so had never done it. But with tourists due to return i thought it was as quiet a time as I would ever get.
Its about a 20K walk and you climb over an active volcano too a height of 1900 meters and back down the other side. The walk takes you past and through active vents and cones and is pretty spectacular. It last erupted in 2012 and the area is showing signs of increased activity again now.

Great pics Craig! Thanks for putting them up!

Cool pics Shanks. Indeed, it's a great walk. Done it two or three times just 'cos I enjoyed it so much. Most walkers start at the south end as I think there's less uphill involved but my favourite is during Winter with some snow around, not many people and starting from the Northern end. Also been tempted to hike up Ngauruhoe and stay overnight ( I think that's still permitted ) but so far have never been organised enough to do it.
Also found a little bit of old deer sign in places but never seen any live ones.

Yep, the area of that last photo had a little deer sign, but im guessing they are quite nocturnal.

Looks like quite a hike,

Mighty fine bunch of pictures.

Did you feel of the lake water, is it warm?

Again, many thanks for sharing your excursion with us.

George

So if or when that volcano does a White Island will victims qualify for a Darwin Award?

I must confess I never thought to feel the water temp.
As far as I know, the volcano gives some indications its getting active. but Im unsure on that. Just one of the risks I guess.

Great pics,great scenes BUT the first thing I thought when i read "active" was White Island.

Its kind of one of those things. if you are there on the wrong day, you might nt get to post pics. But its so rare. White island is a bit different, considering its an offshore island, its killed more than its fair share over the years.

Your line "if you are there on the wrong day, you might nt get to post pics."

My line " if you are there on the wrong day, you might not get to TAKE pics.

All crap aside I would prob do it too.

Interestingly, the area is one of the most volatile super volcanos in the world, and while for some reason its relatively dormant ATM, Its slightly overdue to blow given its usual schedule. When I was growing up, we used to duck shoot an area of the waikato called the Buried forest, which given its name, is an area of forest remains that can still be seen that was covered in pumice and ash from the last big blow 1800 years ago.

It`s a volatile place NZ that`s for sure.
That forest is it petrified stone now?

No, as I understand it, still wood. Im not sure of the whole story, but a large area of it was uncovered when they built a dam in the 1920s, and then flooded with water. when they created the lake.

https://www.google.com/search?...w=1359&bih=729&dpr=1

Tar shanks.

As an aside I hope when (if) it ever goes off that it wont be anything like the Tongan one up the road...or should that be sea!

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abo7063

We could hear the Tongan eruption clear as a bell from here. Was quite freaky and we were trying to work out what it was until it came over the news.

Yep,that would have been a freak out for sure.