Tongariro - Car Park to Soda Springs

We start walking at 7.45 - This should give us enough time to do everything we want to today and get back for the bus at 16:00. The sun is still rising in the sky so we walk through the shadows from the Mangatepopo Car Park towards Soda Springs. The landscape is pretty flat so far but is going steadily uphill. The worst is yet to come. Pictures (Left) - Mt Pukeraikiore bathed in sunlight, (Right) - Mount Doom (Ngauruhoe) awaits.