NZ Day 7

On our 7th day in NZ we visit Kaitoke Regional Park. This forest park was used as the Lord of the 

Rings film location for Rivendell. It would be awesome if this place really looked like picture of Rivendell below! Kaitoke Regional Park is very beautiful, but the waterfalls and most of the Rivendell scenery was digitally created. 

Torah in a rare pensive mood. She is usually all smiles and she spends her days running around being wild.

New Zealand Day 6

We spent our 6th day in New Zealand exploring the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Mount Tongariro is a a very active volcano that last erupted in November 2012, just 4 months before our visit. Mount Tongariro was also used as the film location for "Mount Doom" in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. 

Mount Doom 

Eruption November 21, 2012

I didn't take many pictures of Torah because she insisted I carry her the entire way. So long as she was in my arms she sure was happy!

Addy was so sweet the entire way. We were proud of her for walking most of the way by all by herself.

We made it about 5 kilometers before the we stopped for rest and realized that the girls were too tired to keep going and were clearly ready to turn around.

Happy again! On our way back. 

                                                 
                                               The beautiful stream following the path.

Torah was happy to see the stroller again! We used it for part of the way until the trail became too steep and bumpy.

Mount Tongariro is such a beautiful place. We would love to return again and hike 5 kilometers further to reach the beautiful "Emerald Lakes."

A photo of the Emerald Lakes taken by Sarah Nuttall and posted on NationalGeographic.com