A Grand Lady near Doom and more falling water.

You have probably guessed that I LOVE the grand hotels from the late 19th/early 20th century. Well, Serendipity smiled on us, and we found – after checking many times – a reasonably priced room at the “Chateau Tongariro Hotel”, the Grand Lady of the Tongariro National Park.

Opened in 1929, she stands alone at the border between the plateau and a few massive cinder cone volcanoes. When one turns the corner and sees her for the first time, it is a rather captivating sight.

Inside she shares the extraordinary craftsmanship inherent to all hotels of this generation.

Then it was Bernie-time: a hike to Taranaki Falls. 7 km round trip. Not too bad even for a fat old guy like me!

Little water fall along the way…

Taranaki Falls – a 20 metre drop over an old Andesite flow.

And then…drum roll please…there is the striking cinder cone of Mt. Ngauruhoe just to the north of the Chateau. It is known worldwide as Mt. Doom in Lord of the Rings, just as the plateau in front of the Chateau were used as the plains of Mordor surrounding Mt. Doom.