Mangatepopo Valley

The Mangatepopo Valley — with Tongariro on the left and Ngauruhoe on the right — as seen from the summit of Pukeonaki. People walk up the Mangatepopo Valley at the start of the Tongariro Crossing (you can see the car park in the foreground) and climb the lava escarpment at the end of the valley to reach the saddle between the two mountains. The Crossing then carries on around Tongariro before dropping down into bush on the other side of the mountain… seven hours later. (January 2005.)