New Zealand

New Zealand was formed by the collision of tectonic plates that squeezed its jumble of hills and valleys out of the sea, and it sits uneasily on a faultline which is part of the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’. In the centre of the North Island the volcanic activity can be seen still bubbling through.

Volcanic cones are dotted from west to east, and in the middle is lake Taupo, the giant crater of an ex-volcano that blew itself apart around 2,000 years ago in what was possibly the largest eruption in recorded history

Much of this volcanic plateau is national park land, with plenty of chances to go hiking or camping . The Tongariro Crossing is a stunning one-day walk where you stroll at 6,000 feet across the crater of an extinct volcano and along the rim of one that is still puffing out clouds of sulphur. It’s as close as you’ll get to feeling like you’re on Mars. With a small detour you can walk up to the summit of Ngarauhoe, and adventurous types can ascend the still-active cone of Ruapehu which occasionally spews out ash, mud and lava.

The town of Rotorua is the most accessible point for getting up close and personal with the seismic activity. It’s famous for its boiling mud pools and geysers, which give the whole town a pleasant aroma of rotting eggs.

Lake Taupo’s huge expanse of water is popular summer destination for locals with their boats and caravans. This is as good a spot as any in the world to go skydiving – safe, spectacular, and starting from around $80USD. Even if you don’t do it yourself you’re bound to run into other backpackers in other parts of New Zealand several weeks after their skydiving experience, still high on adrenaline and gibbering about jumping out of a plane

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