January 2007 page 2

A "DOC summer program" walk up Mt Tihia. It's only a route, not a track, and without a guide I'm sure I would soon be lost in the forest. We set out from beside the road over the saddle between Tokaanu and Rotoaira. Steadily up thru forest, podocarps first, then some mountain cedar, lastly pleasant beech forest, then we emerged into scrub to the view below.

That's Rotopounamu in it's bowl of forest, on the other side of the saddle. You can just see the highway down there. Rotoaira and Tongariro as a backdrop. When we reached the vague summit in alpine vegetation, the views got even better as Taupo came into view as well.

Looking to Taupo, then slowly swinging around for the full panorama that continues below. Awesome isn't it ? Even if my panorama shots haven't joined together perfectly.

After a lunch break lazing in the sun, we set off back down to the road along the Taupo side of the ridge.

Back into the shade of the forest, eventually reaching the road and meeting our bus quite a way from our start point.

Thanks DOC, excellent walk.

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