Taupo, New Zealand.

Taupo

Taupo is located on the northeastern shore of Lake Taupo, the largest lake in New Zealand. To get there we took a drive through the Tongeriro National Park, the fourth national park to be established in the world. It contains the North Island Volcanic Plateau - three volcanoes and the lava fields surrounding them. One of the volcanoes, Mount Ngauruhoe, was used for 'Mount Doom' in the Lord of the Rings movies, but even driving past it on three different occasions I was never able to get a decent photo because of the low cloud :(

Mount Ruapehu - you're able to ski on this volcano!

Lava fields. There were such strong winds blowing across this area. It was difficult to keep the van on a straight path along the roads!

Lake Taupo - looks like heaven opening up!

In Taupo we went on a short walk to the Huka Falls located on the Waikato River. The flow of water through this chasm in the rock is so powerful that the Kiwi's decided to harness this power, so a hydroelectric plant was set up nearby. These falls now supply the north island with 65% of its energy demand. Pretty impressive!

Huka Falls

New Zealanders also try to obtain power from geothermal activity. A geothermal power station was built nearby. This caused an increase in geothermal activity in the surrounding area producing steam vents, craters and bubbling mud pools. The area is now known as 'Craters of the Moon'.

Me at 'Craters of the Moon'.

Looks like a battlefield...