Tongariro National Park

Lake Taupo is not only New Zealand's largest lake at 619 sq km, but also the crater of the biggest volcanic explosion known to man.  The lake bed is still active.   Tongariro National Park, where we spent the day walking, lies at the southern end of the lake.  The park contains 3 active volcanic peaks.  These are, in effect, the pressure valves for the lake, and were it not for them, the probability of another Taupo-sized volcanic explosion would be significantly increased.  One of the peaks, Mount Ngauruhoe, achieved fame as Mount Doom in The Lord of The Rings film trilogy. We walked for two hours from Whakapapa Village which is a winter ski resort in the north of the National Park, and later for two hours from Turoa, another ski resort on the southwestern slopes.