It takes about an hour and a half to get to the ocean from almost any place in New Zealand: this is an island country, the roads there are excellent, and the drivers are neat and friendly.
Of course, different people have their own criteria for a good beach, but for me, one of the most memorable was the Baylys Beach. An endless wide sandy strip, surrounded by rocks on which the waves continuously pounce and turn into a water haze over and over again. We walked along the shore, feeling the power of the ocean, and enjoyed the sunny day.
Cars sometimes go to this sandy beach, but they don’t always come back, as sand is deceptive. For them, there are coastal assistance — cars that can help get you back out onto the earth.
On the panorama below — Lake Taupo, the largest lake in the country. Its area is 616 square kilometers, and the length of the greatest diameter is 44 km. Why do I give this data? Try to imagine the scale and be surprised: this lake is the hollow of the super-volcano of the same name that erupted about 27,000 years ago. The eruption even has its own name — Oruanui. The last, not so powerful eruption was in 180 BC and is called "Eruption of Hatepe". Roman and Chinese sources have registered the phenomenon of "red sky".
In New Zealand you can take a walk near ordinary volcanoes along the Tama Lakes trek trail. For example, the young volcano Ngauruhoe, one of the highest and most beautiful volcanoes of the Tongariro complex, is a prototype of Mount Orodruin from the "Lord of the Rings".
Here the weather changes every minute, at first a cold rain can drizzle, then a strong wind will blow away the clouds and the hot sun will finally look out. You have to constantly change clothes, so do not forget to take warm clothes with you.
The trail goes around the lakes of Tama, Upper and Lower, in which the water attracts to itself, especially when the sun shines. Dive and forget all the sorrows!
View on the Lower Lake Tama. On the right, our mad guide Dmitry Kozlov and he is in shorts. It seems to me that he just wants to be more like a local one, because the New Zealanders are not afraid of the cold at all.
When you walk along this beautiful trail, do not forget to stop near the beautiful Taranaki Falls. You definitely do not miss it, I recommend!
To be continued... ;)
Camera: OLYMPUS E-M1 MarkII
You can also see my photos in my blogs on Golos and LJ