Tongararing to go!

For almost the last two weeks I have been circling Tongariro National Park in the central plateau of the North Island in hope of getting a fine day to do the Alpine Crossing, a stunning 18km stroll / mountain assault course between two active volcanos. I've been in Auckland, Taupo (twice), Raglan, Napier and Coromandel - all lovely places with different atmospheres and attractions, but I have become fixated on this walk, touted as the best one-dayer in the world, to the exclusion of everything else. And tomorrow seems finally set fair for a hike up to 1,900m amid snow-capped volcanos! Fingers crossed....