The Tongariro Crossing is an amazing journey thru beautiful, bleak and forbidding volcanic scenery. Many of the Lord of the Rings locations (Mt Doom, Mordor etc) are here. See ‘Recent Images’ Gallery for images taken on a recent walk over the crossing track. Unique places like the Red Crater, Emerald Lakes are shown.
The walk is hugely popular in summer (almost crowded at times!) so try to be up there early or late in the day if you can. There are some long steep climbs but it can be done in one day if you are reasonably fit, and provided (this is important!) the weather is good.