Central Crater & Blue Lake (1725m): The descent into the central crater was a little confused with people not coping with the lose scoria (scree) and my assumption that Michael was still behind me. However once we were down, it was another pleasant wander along the flat chatting about critical issues like cellphone coverage and eruptions!

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).