Long before Lonely Planet listed the Taranaki region as one of the most ‘must visit’ locations in the world it was one of my favourite places to head to with the camera.
This is Pouakai Tarn. It’s about a 6km walk up, gradual for the first 20 minutes and then a very long series of wooden stairs takes you ever higher. Just when you think you are done the track crests and starts heading down to the tarn. The area is fragile and a boardwalk has been built around it to provide protection.
I am always stunned by how huge the mountain looks from here.
The Tarn itself is very small and this is where the camera works it’s magic. After a sunrise that could not have been better, the wind pi...