Chateau Tongariro...with a snow cat

I love this location and for years I have wanted to visit it, the last time we were in this area was over 10 years ago but I never got a chance to stop until now.  Chateau Tongariro is in the heart of the National Park, was originally built in the 1920s and is still in use today. On the day we were there someone had thoughtfully made what we thought looked like a snow cat out the front, our attempt was some sort of small trans-gender snow person.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday :-)

Mount Tongariro - shooting off steam

Mount Tongariro - when we visited past it last weekend it was shooting off steam from the mountain.

This area is NZ's oldest national park and is considered extremely important in Maori culture. There are many walks and treks but you have to be pretty experienced to attempt these, quite a few people have to be rescued because they are ill prepared for the temperatures and the terrain. Not only that but it also offers hunting of red deer and mountain biking.

A truly special place :-)

Tongariro Trout Fishing

On our way to Ruapehu last weekend we stopped (cos I'm one of those annoying people who if I see something when we are driving that I think is interesting I say "stop") near a bridge just before Turangi.

As we drove around Lake Taupo I saw these fishermen trout fishing all in a long line down the river.

These two in particular were the only ones who caught one while we were there, the others were throwing their lines in back and forth - no doubt they were pleased with their catch.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday :-)