Mount Ruapehu is a no-show

5 days so far in New Zealand, 5 days of 100% cloud cover and rain. The clouds are low, so although yesterday and today, we should have had wonderful views of the volcano Mt Ruapehu, we didn't. So that's something to do on the next world trip.

We have enjoyed NZ despite the weather on our tour of the North Island. Yesterday, we visited another volcanicly active site, Waikite Valley. The walk the previous day had been so outstanding that this one couldn't top it. It was interesting, though, that in different places, geothermal activity produces quite different results. In this case, large pools, with stepped terraces, and areas in green blue, violet, and yellow.

Today, as the rain continued, we dropped plans to go to the
volcano, and instead, we went for a 6km hike around Lake Rotoaira. Lovely lutiously green place.Read more