Atene Skyline Hike

Today was the only day in New Zealand which didn't go according to plan (not that there has ever been much plan). I was going to attempt the Tongariro Crossing, a day's walk across the high slopes of a volcano. But the weather was against it: low cloud and the constant threat of rain.

So instead I spent 5 hours on the Atene Skyline in the nearby Whanganui National Park. There I got rain and mist, but also beautiful views through the forests onto the surrounding hills and the Whanganui River, and a quiet close-up with some of New Zealand's beautiful and often pre-historic looking vegetation.