Day 40 Whakapapa

We decided to visit the largest ski area in New Zealand today..  no snow of course but still worth a look. We drive along a scenic highway toward Mt. Raupehu through Tongariro National Park. At the entrance to the road to the ski area we pass Chateau Tongariro, a classic hotel similar to the Chateau Hotels in the Canadian Rockies. Arriving at the ski area village we could not help but wonder how they could possibly ski here. It looks very much like what it is..  the landscape of an erupted volcano.... Large boulders tossed haphazardly over the mountain side. We talked to the staff and they said it takes up to 1.5 metres of snow to begin to get snow cover. We ride two chairlifts up to the highest cafe in NZ and have, of course two flat whites.