Mary Jane Walker's Blog: Adventures at Snow Farm Part 1 – Skiing with a broken shoulder! , page 26

Waikaremoana: Also Steeped in M��oritanga

Lake Waikaremoana, the sea of rippling waters, is a gorgeous upland lake between Taup�� and the east coast of the North Island. The hike around it is one of New Zealand's official Great Walks.

Lakes Rotoaira and Rotopounamu: Between the Volcanoes and Taup��

Also well worth a visit are Lakes Rotoaira and Rotopounamu, two beautiful lakes which lie halfway between the volcanoes of Tongariro National Park and Lake Taup��. Both lakes are bordered by native bush and closely overlooked by the bald-topped Mount Pihanga.
Lake Rotoaira was raised in the 1970s for the purposes of the Tongariro Power Scheme. It is privately owned and you need a permit to go boating or fishing.

Mount Tongariro and the Tongariro Crossing: A Gem

This post is about the Tongariro Crossing, a comparatively high-altitude hike across the volcanic wilderness of Mount Tongariro in the central North Island of New Zealand. The Tongariro Crossing is one of New Zealand's official Great Walks.

Mount Ruapehu: You can make it

Mount Ruapehu is the tallest peak in the North Island. It's got two skifields, a skyline gondola and is also good for climbing. I love going there from Auckland!

Pirongia: A Pretty Subalpine Climb in Bog

Pirongia is an extinct volcano in the western part of the Waikato, which people generally walk in a circle. It's a gnarly up and down climb and is covered in misty jungles and wet bogs. Altogether, a great place to visit!

The Kaimai Range of New Zealand: From Mount Te Aroha to Hobbiton

The Kaimai Range forms the boundary between the Waikato Region and the coast to the east. It's got a lot of attractions including Hobbiton (in front of the ranges) and famous hot springs at several locations, along with hikes in the mountains and Wairere Falls.

The Coromandel Pinnacles of New Zealand: Hundreds of Steps in Rock

This post is all about the Coromandel Pinnacles, a highly accessible yet wild area of old volcanic plugs rising out of green wilderness in the middle of the Coromandel peninsula.

Auckland's Western Wilds

The area of hills and coast west of Auckland is surprisingly wild, considering that it's so close to a major city.

Waiheke in the Sun

Waiheke Island is the largest island in Auckland's inner Hauraki Gulf. It's a ferry suburb and also very popular with visitors, who explore its many vineyards and nature parks.

The Talents of Taranaki

What else can I say about this wonderful region? Well, it's got lots of amazing talent and towns, which I talk about before circling the mountain for one last time, closer in, and departing by way of the Forgotten World Highway!