The Central
Plateau is home to three impressive mountains: Mount Tongariro,
Mount Ngauruhoe, and Mount Ruapehu, which served as Mount Doom
in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Our particular tour
did not include the park that encompasses the three mountains,
but we have included photos of the three main mountains because
they are just so striking. . | Mountains
of the Tangariro National Park |
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| Mount Tongariro | Mount Ngauruhoe | Mount Ruapehu |
After boarding a bus from the Okahune
train depot, we traveled to the Tūroa ski field, in the shadow
of Mount Ruapeahu. As it was summer there was no snow, and
this laid bare the black volcanic rock. This is shown in the
photo of the ski lift to the left. Descending a path below the
ski field's parking lot, we arrived at Tawhai Falls, famous as
the the filming location for the "Forbidden Pool" where Frodo
and Faramir watch Gollum catch fish in Lord of the Rings:
The Two Towers. Below is a drone video of our merry
group which shows the terrain of the ski field.
Our home for the two nights spent in
Okahune was the Powderhorn Chateau, a classic chalet. The
decor? In a word--wood! All this place was missing were the
skis. It was an interesting contrast with the sleek modern
design of the Novotel in Hamilton, and the classic decor of
the Fable in Auckland. The Powderhorn Chateau was located on
the outskirts of the town. It featured good-sized rooms with
private terrace, a large dining room, and an elevated terrace.
We ate a hardy meal at the restaurant the first night, and
returned there for a full-course breakfast to sustain us. The
terrace was sunlit and a great place for an afternoon drink or
a game of cards.
