Wake up at 530 (yes am!!) to do the mammoth 17km / 7hr hike that is the Tongariro hike. Scenery on way to national park is awesome - drive by lake Taupo for ages and then go past Mt Doom and other Lord of the Rings scenery. Hike itself is amazing - 1st half is 'challenging' as the brochure puts it - massively up hill - rocky, molten lava, mud terrain! Have lunch by the Emerald lakes - and then continue hike through countryside, rainforest, hills and mountains - v tired when get back to car park but def one of the best activities so far. Hit the town for a Sat night in Taupo with Jon, Maria & Trina - Holy Cow, Mulligans, few other gd bars - 2-2 pool, get a beating at fusball against 'Team Denmark'.