Red Crater (1886m) & Emerald Lakes: A further brief climb took us to Red Crater with its interesting structures and minor volcanic activity.

We sat on a rock to have lunch and the Greek Lady (Maria, of course) who had got me to take some photos of her on the way up caught up with us. She was quite concerned about the descent so I lent her my pole as I had no intention of needing it! The views "above the clouds" were spectacular, with Taranaki just able to be made out peaking up through the clouds in the third shot (looking west).

It was here that Mr Phun lost his hat again and went to retrieve it from the very edge of the crater, much to our concern as the rim is unstable and a fall into it would most likely be fatal - all for the sake of a straw hat!