Kia Ora

Kia Ora

Interesting facts.

NZ. or Aotearoa In Maori, means 'The Land of the long white cloud'. It is quite a young country, geologically active, with tectonic faults and volcanoes, glaciers and rivers constantly building and eroding land. It consists of many islands, the main ones being the North and South island. It used to be part of one land mass, Gondwana, and split off 80 million years ago, taking with it its unique plants and bird life. The first Eastern Polynesian settlers arrived 750 years ago, and the first Europeans to settle arrived in 1769 after discovery by James Cook.

As it is a long thin country, there are several climates and micro climates within, from sub tropical in the North and temperate (similar to UK) in the South. The total population is around 4.2 million ( UK has nearly 63 million) of which 1 million are based in Auckland. Auckalnd also known as the 'The city of sails' (due to a high proportion of boat ownership) is the biggest city, though not the capital, which is Wellinton. Auckland’s weather is warm/hot long summers with mild and wet winters. (average annual sunshine hours= 2050. Manchester=1200 hrs) and (annual average rain=1240mm. Manchester=810mm!) most rain falling as heavy tropical showers in the winter months of June-July

Sunday, 20 March 2011

Mount Ruapehu

 A leisurely weekend away planned for a change?..not a chance! this weekend we set out on a trek to find the highest geocache in New Zealand.
On the top of Mount Ruapehu, overlooking Crater lake is a a small shelter, inside of which is hidden the cache. Mount Ruapehu stands at 2,700M, (twice the height of Ben Nevis in Scotland), and is used for skiing etc.. in Winter. Unfortunately in winter, the hut is often buried under snow, and to access the cache you can climb down the chimney (hence the name 'Santas suprise').
This volcano is NZ's most recently active volcano- last eruptions were 1996, and 2007! The active vent is filled by the famous Crater lake, which is frequently ejected across the ice and snow during eruptions,causing Lahars


We went with a small group of geocachers, and stayed overnight at the 'Skotel', so we could get an early start on the Sunday morning


The Team
                                
The ski lifts were active on this calm, sunny blue zinger-sky day, and we started the long ascent with a wee lift!
Man it was a tough climb!. All vertical apart from a very narrow ridge near the top, with lots of boulders, rocks and loose scoria to negotiate.
Above the clouds

the hut on top of Ruapehu
 We got great views on the way up, climbing higher than the clouds, and lots of interesting rocks, in fabulous colours- purple, pink, blue, yellow, red etc..
                




crater lake


When we reached the top, we were rewarded with amazing views of Crater lake.
yey we made it to the top


                                                                      

Extreme ridge walking..don't look down! 
It was quite cold at this altitude, so we quickly located the cache and signed the logbook to say we had found it. Then there was a quick lunch break, and a few photographs, before we started the descent.. but not before we were treated to the unusal sight of a half naked youth, running along the ridge and past the hut, to perform some Yoga poses!! ...
                  "Only in New Zealand"- is the phrase that springs to mind!
Mount Dooommm!

Extreme yoga

Yoga for the brave
few more pix for you......

Huge melted holes in crater floor

no need to climb down the chimney today
but these poor guys did....


Santas suprise in winter!!!


and link to rest of FLICKR fotos     here!


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