Tongariro Crossing

So you want to hike and explore an active volcano? ...What better place to go than New Zealand. The two relatively small islands located on the edge of the Pacific ocean have a complex geological history. New Zealand lies along what scientists call the "Ring of Fire". The ring of fire composes over 75% of the world's active and dormant volcanoes and encompasses the coast of northern Australia, Asia, Alaska and the Pacific Coast of north and south America, (as outlined in the USGS map to the right).

New Zealand has been formed due to the action of the Pacific plate colliding with the Indo-Australia plate. This action eventually led to the formatin of the Tasman Sea and separated New Zealand from eastern coast of Australia (80 to 60 million years ago).

One geological hot spot in New Zealand is located around the town of Taupo (North Island). The earth's crust is very thin here and the sulpher odor is very noticable. It is quite common to see plums of gas jet from rocks in the mountains, as well as around lakes, and hot springs.

Tongariro National Park is located close to Taupo and is New Zealand's oldest national park; it is a place of extremes and surprises. Many films have been set in this dramatic and dynamic landscape including the popular movie, Lord of the Rings. In the movie the barren volcanic waseland represented Mordor, and is a place that can not be forgotten. It's diverse landscape is comprised of grassy slopes, herb fields, forests, lava flows, jetting volcanic rock as well as tranquil lakes nested in desert-like plateaus.

On this epic journy my, friends Sarah Lane and Joe Bailey Hughes joined me on a short 12 mile hike to explore this amazing place.