How lucky to have a beautiful day to experience this "must do" track. Once you get past the Devil's Staircase, you reach a plateau in between Mt Ngaruahoe and Mt Tongariro which makes you feel you are on the moon ...... a totally foreign landscape awaits, filled with amazing landscapes, views and a myriad of alpine plants. The Red Crater is an awesome surprise as are the Emerald and Blue Lakes. The expansive views over Lake Taupo on the northern downward slope are worth a photo or two.