When lockdown was over and we were in Level 2, the Chateau Tongariro was advertising special deals to stay- and I decided to take advantage of their offer. The weather was brilliant, and I was able to walk the Taranaki Falls track, perhaps my favourite New Zealand track as it has turned out beside the Hooker track in Mt Cook National Park.
The track started not far from the Chateau itself. It was a loop track, and by accident really, I took the lower of the two tracks first, which in hindsight I am quite pleased about. It descended at times down to streams, and so the views up higher came as a delightful surprise.
It wasn't long before I was noticing icy deposits near the path.
You could look back past the alpine scrub to see the Chateau.
The stream that I walked alongside in places had icy stretches in the shade. The patterns in the ice were quite beautiful.
Then all of a sudden I found myself climbing a little out into more open alpine scrub. The three young men in this photo were from France- so had obviously been with us through lockdown.
Up high I came across a stream that was pretty much completely iced over, and frozen into stillness.
The Taranaki Falls came into view, and were stunning.
The white 'circle' around them was ice, as you could see when you went closer. Not a pool to plunge into midwinter!
I sat beside the waterfall on a rock for ages, just soaking in the unbelievable sunshine and blue skies, listening to the sound of the water falling.
But then came the return loop. There was a bit of a climb, though not unduly harsh, and soon you were seeing the stream away from the falls from above.
And above on high you had views of Mts Ngauruhoe, Ruapehu, and also in the distance, Mt Taranaki.
Later, back in the Chateau I could relax in deep armchairs and enjoy the art deco windows...
This view of the sunset was from the terrace of the Chateau building, right beneath my window.
Next morning I drove home via the road near Rangipo and over to Turangi. There was a frost, and the drive was somewhat scary in places with icy roads- but it was so worth it just to see this icy spidersweb- a first for me!
It was a bit of a tiki-tour down memory lane. Here is the headstone of my parents, with the mountain behind. 
And here is St Joseph's Church, where I remember singing in Latin in the choir loft with my father when I was 5. Apparently the choir loft is now 'dangerous' and they are raising funds to repair it.)
Here is Arohanui posing outside my old primary school. (Arohanui was going to have a post all her own about this trip, but it seems a little bit too much time has gone by since the adventure now!)
This is a beautiful statue of Our Lady in St Joseph's Church, New Plymouth. 
And now we return to the mountain. Here is Arohanui posing in front a view near New Plymouth, just to prove she's been there, done that, doesn't need the guidebook!
And now my beautiful Mt Egmont, complete with lush fertile grass growth in front, befitting such a wet spring.
And here is a slightly closer version: yes, I was experimenting with the telephoto lens on my new camera.
Last week I took a drive up the Desert Rd, and had spectacular views on the way north. First up here is Mt Ruapehu, which had its drama last year when the crater wall finally had an expected collapse, letting a lahar loose. 
Mt Ngauruhoe was looking deceptively peaceful with its snow covered peak. 
And just north of Taupo, I took a walk around the Craters of the Moon, which I had heard about from my cousins but never made time to see before. Lots of steam rising from the ground, and one dramatic large mudpool. Quite a reminder of the activity that always lurks close to the surface in this whole area!
