Mt. Taranaki, a dormant stratovolcano and the second highest point on the North Island, sits towering over the town of New Plymouth, my next destination.  I decided to take the longer route, directly south from Tongariro to the coast then along the coast up to New Plymouth, so that I could see more of the countryside.  I made one stop at the very southern end of Tongariro National Park to see Mangawhero… Read More