Feb 5-6: Huka Falls, Waikato River, Turangi Bike Loop, Taranaki Falls, Mt Doom

Started Day 8 looking over this chute of the Waikato River.
                                


The roaring channel.

 Then hiked along it---beautiful color!


                                                   
We enjoyed the brisk water of the river complemented by the warm water tumbling into it from some geothermal creek that heated up this little inlet.


After lunch we took a genuine mountain biking trip, weaving through narrow tree lined trails, over bridges and boardwalks, along river cliffs, and past cow pastures.  Really fun and our first time on trails like this with actual mountain bikes.


        
 Dirk with bike on a bridge.
                                                                   



Charlie, one of our trip mates,  on the suspension bridge over the river.



Cows along the trail. There are soooooo many cows in New Zealand north!
                        

Day 5 saw us dropping off half of our group to do the epic 12 mile Tongariro Crossing Hike past multiple craters along the edge of Mount Doom of Lord of the Rings fame.


The other wiser but less intrepid group (which included us) did the 3.7 mile loop to Taranaki Falls.


Note Mt. Doom in the distance!!!



 This trail was much different from others we have done, in that the altitude made it sub-alpine scrublands with trees only in some river bottoms.
                  


We dipped down into the river bottom to find the falls.


 Filled our water bottles here because everyone drinks backcountry water 
right out of the source without filtering.
                

Then we visited the ski place where people from Auckland go.  We were stunned that it was in a volcanic wasteland and that there are club houses scattered about its base. They are having trouble having enough snow, just like so many other ski resorts!


The gondola taking tourists up the ski slope.  Really?  People can ski here ever? It would take a lot of snow to cover the volcanic boulders.


Continuing our Lord of the Rings theme, we went to the pool where Golum bites a raw fish!

            
It was beautiful minus the raw fish.

Another amazing view of Mt. Doom while en route to a decrepit thermal pool facility with private rooms and a very hot tiny pool. We tried to stop at the Visitor Center for the area but it was closed due to the holiday celebrating the treaty with the Maori chiefs. Very disappointing.
 

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