On Monday we got up early and headed off to Tongariro National Park, in the centre of the North Island. This is the home of the mountain used as Mount Doom in Lord of the Rings, amongst many other things. There's a day walk there called the Tongariro Crossing which is meant to be the best day walk in New Zealand, but the weather forecast wasn't great and many of us didn't have the right gear, so all but one of us went on an equally lengthy but not so tough track.
A six hour walk took us to a waterfall and the lower lake and back, across scenery that could have been taken right out of a film or postcard. It was barren and desolate, unlike much of the agricultural North Island, and felt untouched by civilization.
After a much deserved drink, we continued on to a hostel and had an entertaining Halloween party, complete with costume. As usual, we didn't stay up too late; such are the consequences of waking up at 6 every day and doing so much. Each day seems like two or three, we always seem to be on the go.
