Welcome to the archive images of Tamaki Makaurau
 
 
Week 39
23 July 2003
 
 
Return to Auckland
 
On our return back to Auckland, we made a quick stop at the Tangiwai disaster site where the worst rail accident in New Zealand's history occurred.  On December 24, 1953 a lahar from Mt Ruapehu weakened the structure of the Tangiwai railway bridge, sending the overnight express train between Wellington and Auckland into the Whangaehu River, killing 151 of the 285 people on the train.  A lahar warning system was subsequently installed.  A lahar is a mudflow composed of pyroclastic material and water which flows down from a volcano.  The term 'lahar' originated in Indonesia.
 
 
The Tangiwai Memorial, showing the replica of the number
plate of the ill-fated steam locomotive
 
 
 
 
 The Whangaehu River which flows for 135km southward into the Tasman Sea.
Of those that died in the disaster, 20 bodies were never recovered
 
 
 
 
State Highway One or commonly known as the Desert Road, winds through a unique
alphine semi-desert called the Rangipo Desert.  Here the vegetation is minimal and
scrubby, due to the poor soil quality and drying winds, even though this area receives
1500 - 2500mm of rainfall per year.   Considerable areas of this land are used by the
New Zealand Army for training.   This image was taken through the window
 
 
 
 
To the east of the desert road, lies the Kaimanawa Ranges with their slopes forming
part of the North Island Volcanic Plateau.  The soil on this side of the desert
road is more fertile but the land is very rough
 
 
 
 
 Towards the west in the late afternoon sun, lies Mt Ruapehu.  The land around the
mountains, where the Rangipo Desert is located, is scrubby and of poor quality
 
 
 
 
 The tip of Mt Ngauruhoe (Nga Uru Hoe), which means "throwing heated stones".
This is the youngest vent and highest peak in the Tongariro volcanic complex. 
Its last eruption was in 1977
 
 
 
 
We made it to Lake Taupo just in time to witness the start of an awesome sunset
 
 
 
 
Sunset Bench
 
 
 
 
Beautiful and serene
 
 
 
 
 Trout fishing at the mouth of Waihatanui River
and the end of a perfect day
 
 

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