Tongariro National Park

After a long drive from Taupo we arrived in the middle of the National Park where we hoped to do the Tongariro Crossing, one of the main attractions of the North Island. Unfortunately for us it was cancelled due to snow. However, we did have a really good day! We stopped at these waterfalls where Gollum is filmed eating a fish in LOTR (tawhai falls). Afterwards we went on a walk for 2 hours which was so funny. Naomi, Lois and I all lagged behind and it had started snowing and nobody else was to be seen. We had got so snap happy that we were last back to the bus. Luckily we actually made it back because there were huge sections of pools of mud which I had to climb through in my brand new UGG boots! I was not happy! At one point the climb was so difficult, and the path so deserted that when we saw a helicopter roaming above us, we actually thought it had been sent to save us! I literally couldn't move without getting caught knee deep in dirt, I really don't know how I got out at all! Lois and Naomi thought it was hilarious and were taking photos the whole time I was falling through the mud!

That night we chilled in the nicest log cabins, with log fires, and plenty of films and board games to keep us entertained while it snowed outside! The whole bus got chance to get to know eachother which was really nice. The next day me and Tom went out in the snow. The roads were all closed so we were stuck waiting. It was so cold but that did not stop me lying on the snow making snow angles! It was so much fun; a very dramatic day with helicopters and such!