South Crater (1559m): The South Crater was engulfed in mist but this made a pleasant horizontal stroll after the steep 250m climb from the valley (439m from the car park). Along the way I managed to photograph a nervous Anthus novaseelaniae (Pihoihoi, the New Zealand Pipit).

After a short stop by the (dry) crater lake nestled below Mt Ngauruahoe (Mt Doom in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings triology) we headed up the ridge toward Red Crater. Half way up one looks into Mordor (the Oturere Valley).