North Island Road Trip

After leaving Wellington we hit the road to see some sights on the way to Auckland. The scenery is dramatic and changes constantly. We'll see Tongariro National Park, The Desert Highway, Lake Taupo, Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, Rotorua and more!

A scenic field with sheep outside of Marton, North Island, NZ.
Animals Cameras Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Sheep Sony A7Rii michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Alpaca ranch.
Alpaca Animals Cameras Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Sony A7Rii michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Alpaca ranch.
Alpaca Animals Cameras Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Sony A7Rii michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Mangaweka "International Airport." aka Mangaweka Adventure Company.
Aircraft Cameras Douglas DC3 Mangaweka Mangaweka Adventure Company Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Sony A7Rii Transportation michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Ruahine Road bridge over the Tangitikei River.
Cameras Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Rangitikei River Sony A7Rii michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Rangitikei River
Cameras Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Rangitikei River Sony A7Rii michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Looks like we hit Taihape during the Gumboot Festival. What luck!
Cameras Gumboot Day Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Sony A7Rii Taihape michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
The Ohakune Carrot...world famous in New Zealand.
Cameras Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Ohakune Ohakune Carrot Places Sony A7Rii michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Chateau Tongariro Hotel with Mount Ruapehu in the background.
Cameras Chateau Tongariro Hotel Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Sony A7Rii Tongariro National Park Whakapapa michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Chateau Tongariro Hotel with Mount Ruapehu in the background.
Cameras Chateau Tongariro Hotel Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Sony A7Rii Tongariro National Park Whakapapa michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Ski map of the Whakapapa Ski Area.
Cameras Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Sony A7Rii Tongariro National Park Whakapapa Whakapapa Ski Area michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Riding the lifts at the Whakapapa Ski Area.
Cameras Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Sony A7Rii Tongariro National Park Whakapapa michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
The tiny ski lodge.
Cameras Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Sony A7Rii Tongariro National Park Whakapapa Whakapapa Ski Area michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
The road to the ski area is not so busy in the off season.
Bruce Road Cameras Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Sony A7Rii Tongariro National Park Whakapapa michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Mount Ruapehu, the inspiration for Mount Doom in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium.
Cameras Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Doom Mount Ruapehu New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Sony A7Rii Tongariro National Park Whakapapa michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Mt Ruapehu from the Desert Road.
Cameras Desert Road Scenic Drive Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Sony A7Rii michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Mount Ngauruhoe from the Desert Road.
Cameras Desert Road Scenic Drive Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Ruapehu New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Sony A7Rii Tongariro National Park michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Panorama from the Desert Road, Mount Ruapehu on the left and Mount Ngauruhoe on the right.
Cameras Desert Road Scenic Drive Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Ngauruhoe New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Sony A7Rii Tongariro National Park michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
A stream fed by snow melt on the Desert Road.
Cameras Desert Road Scenic Drive Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Sony A7Rii michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Mount Ruapehu.
Cameras Desert Road Scenic Drive Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Ngauruhoe New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Sony A7Rii Tongariro National Park michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Mount Ngauruhoe from the Desert Road, heather growing in the foreground.
Cameras Desert Road Scenic Drive Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Doom Mount Ruapehu New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Sony A7Rii Tongariro National Park michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Tim showing off his mountain.
Cameras Desert Road Scenic Drive Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos Mount Doom Mount Ruapehu New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Sony A7Rii Tongariro National Park michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Driving the Desert Road.
Cameras Desert Road Scenic Drive Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Sony A7Rii michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Along the shore of Lake Taupo.
Cameras Lake Taupo Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Sony A7Rii Taupo michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
They release water from Lake Taupo into the Waikato River a few times a day. It makes for a spectacular show and creates some great rapids.
Aratiatia Rapids Cameras Huka Falls Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Sony A7Rii Taupo Waikato River michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Just starting the release, the water rises fast!
Aratiatia Rapids Cameras Huka Falls Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Sony A7Rii Taupo Waikato River michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
People enjoying the show.
Aratiatia Rapids Cameras Huka Falls Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Sony A7Rii Taupo Waikato River michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
The water rising.
Aratiatia Rapids Cameras Huka Falls Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Sony A7Rii Taupo Waikato River michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Upright stone with Maori symbol.
Cameras Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand Oceania Places Sony A7Rii michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
We stopped to say hello to these horses along the way.
Animals Cameras Horses Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand Oceania Places Sony A7Rii michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
We stopped to say hello to these horses along the way.
Animals Cameras Horses Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand Oceania Places Sony A7Rii michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
We stopped to say hello to these horses along the way.
Animals Cameras Horses Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand Oceania Places Sony A7Rii michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Huka Falls
Aratiatia Rapids Cameras Huka Falls Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Sony A7Rii Taupo Waikato River michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Tim on the Huka Falls overlook bridge.
Aratiatia Rapids Cameras Huka Falls Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Sony A7Rii Taupo Waikato River michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
The Huka Falls Jet Boat.
Aratiatia Rapids Cameras Huka Falls Huka Falls Jet Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Sony A7Rii Taupo Waikato River michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Wairakei Geothermal Station View Point.
Cameras Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Sony A7Rii Wairakei Wairakei Geothermal Station michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Ohaaki Power Station. I'm not sure why geothermal power stations have cooling towers.
Cameras Cooling Tower Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Ohaaki Power Station Places Sony A7Rii Sturctures and Engineering michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Explaining the Taupo Volcanic Zone.
Cameras Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Rotorua Sony A7Rii Taupo Volcanic Zone Waiotapu WaiOTapu Thermal Wonderland michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
A hot mud pool at Wai-O-Tapu.
Cameras Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Rotorua Sony A7Rii Taupo Volcanic Zone Waiotapu WaiOTapu Thermal Wonderland michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland.
Cameras Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Rotorua Sony A7Rii Taupo Volcanic Zone Waiotapu WaiOTapu Thermal Wonderland michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
It's quite smelly!
Cameras Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Rotorua Sony A7Rii Taupo Volcanic Zone Waiotapu WaiOTapu Thermal Wonderland michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
The Champagne Pool.
Cameras Champagne Pool Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Rotorua Sony A7Rii Taupo Volcanic Zone Waiotapu WaiOTapu Thermal Wonderland michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
The Champagne Pool.
Cameras Champagne Pool Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Rotorua Sony A7Rii Taupo Volcanic Zone Waiotapu WaiOTapu Thermal Wonderland michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Cameras Champagne Pool Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Rotorua Sony A7Rii Taupo Volcanic Zone Waiotapu WaiOTapu Thermal Wonderland michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Mystery berrys growing near the thermal springs.
Cameras Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Rotorua Sony A7Rii Taupo Volcanic Zone Waiotapu WaiOTapu Thermal Wonderland michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
Lake Ngakoro
Cameras Lake Ngakoro Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Rotorua Sony A7Rii Taupo Volcanic Zone Waiotapu WaiOTapu Thermal Wonderland michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
The Champagne Pool.
Cameras Champagne Pool Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Rotorua Sony A7Rii Taupo Volcanic Zone Waiotapu WaiOTapu Thermal Wonderland michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com
The Champagne Pool.
Cameras Champagne Pool Michael Walker Michael Walker Photos New Zealand North Island Oceania Places Rotorua Sony A7Rii Taupo Volcanic Zone Waiotapu WaiOTapu Thermal Wonderland michaelwalkerphotos www.michaelwalkerphotos.com

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