Saturday 3rd April 2010: We were collected by the "Roam" shuttle and transported to the end of Mangatepopo Rd. There were cars, vans and buses for kilometers and our driver informed us that this was the busiest day of the year (or ever!). Knowing this, we set off as soon as possible to stay out of the "crowd", but got somewhat stuck behind an apparently unfit talkative group with no obvious gear. Luckily they soon dropped back.

Mr Phun was amazed at the lava formations on the Mangatepopo Valley. We could also see old lava flows on Tongariro with the "Tongariro Crossing" path crossing them (see zoom view).