Driving to the airport, we passed an active vent on the side of one of the volcanoes.

Up in the airplane, we had a good view of the volcanic field, contained within Tongariro National Park.

This view is looking at Red Crater.

Here is one of several lakes at the peaks. With an eruption, the water can be expelled.

Two last photos of the amazing landscape.

After we landed, we drove around the park and back towards Taupo via Waiouru (D on the map), and made a few view stops. 

This is Ruapehu from the eastern side of the park area.

On Monday we went to Orakei Korako, a geothermal site back in the direction of Rotorua (star on the map). There is a well–made trail to walk around the hot spots. There are quite a few different colors, and tree fern forests.

The next day we drove north to Auckland. 

Our hotel was near the tower. Yes, one can jump 629 feet/192 meters off of the tower! We walked around in the city visiting the Maritime Museum with its gigantic America’s Cup boats and mock ups of sailing ship interiors to show how people got to New Zealand in the 19th and early 20th centuries. We then visited the Aquarium.

The Aquarium has a room filled with King Penguins, the second biggest penguin.

Here is a clownfish like those that starred in Finding Nemo (2003).

On departure day, we visited Auckland Zoo, had lunch, and then drove out to the airport for the long flight home.The Zoo has a good collection of native birds and an another good area devoted to Australia. Here is the world’s smallest penguin, Little Blue Penguin.

There is a building for nocturnal Kiwi birds. It took 15 minutes for our eyes to adjust to the darkness inside. We did finally see a kiwi, and were surprised at how large it is. The Kiwi is one of the species of flightless birds that has not gone extinct due to human interference over the last one thousand years.

This is a Tasmanian Devil.

Here again is the interactive map of the places we visited. New Zealand is a great country for tourism!

We are in North Island to check out Lake Taupo, Rotorua and Auckland.

Next—Home, 5,663 nautical miles/10,487 kilometers. We landed in SFO “before” we left New Zealand due to the time zone changes.