New Zealand- Tama Lakes

a day of rain and relaxation later, we were ready to head out hiking again. though the morning was still a  bit wet and rainy, we had been informed that the skies would be clearing by 10am. as this hike was just out of whakapapa village, we decided to wait it out and go then. 

the hike to tama lakes is relatively easy, save all the washed out areas that require a bit of "alternate path making". the 17km hike leads to lower tama lake at approx 1200m elevation. the lower lake is slowly being filled in with sediment. it probably would have been absolutely amazing a few thousand years ago when it wasn't. but the view with mt ruapehu in the background was still stunning.

we then chose to add on the side track to upper tama lake. the short hike up the 150m difference is quite steep, on scree, and so added a nice little challenge to the day. upper tama lake the larger of the 2 lakes and is a much deeper blue. john and i continued up to another peak, probably another 150m up to get a better view. from there we could see both lakes and mt ruapehu. 

the return trip from the lakes is essentially along the same path until nearing the end, at which point a fork in the trail leads you down past taranaki falls. the falls flow over and old lava flow (15 000 yrs old) into a small boulder-ringed pool and flow into a stream leading back to whakapapa.

it was christmas day, and the holiday park wasn't all that busy. we had a nice evening with some new friends, eating, drinking and generally being merry. but an early night as we were heading off to wanganui the next morning.

xo