Tongariro National Park Off The Beaten Path

This is the sign telling you about the small walk around the thermal area.
Enlarge sign for a clearer picture.

Beside the Tokaanu Thermal Pools is a small walkway and thermal activity, its not flash, but its FREE.

At the end of the hike it was like an overcrowded bus station, bodies everywhere unwinding and enjoying themselves, us old fellas simply hoped in the car and drove off.

At the back of the Ketetahi Hut, with no room for a snack this is one of the tent sites it is a flat cleared areas with four boards with staples to tie your tent down with.

The Ketatahi Hut, a popular stop over before starting the long down ward walk, the Blue Lake can be seen clearly from here.

This is the view of The Blue Lake taken from the Ketetahi Hut, there are toilets there and limited drinking water.

The walk now is on good tracks, our car is on the right hand side of the photo, somewhere in the green patch, some hours away.

When we got closer to the larger of the Emerald Lakes, its a matter of finding a rock and having another bite to eat.
This area was one of the highlights for me.

Finally we descend to the larger of the Emerald Lakes, you realise how popular the hike is when you see all the people around the lake, this is the only one with easy access.

You now have a respite from climbing going across the South Crater, heading to-wards your next climb to the Red Crater.