Trampers cross North Crater, Tongariro National Park. Photo: Peter Laurenson

The early bird catches the view

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Peter Laurenson

A tramper, occasional climber, photographer, editor and writer, Peter has been adventuring for more than 30 years.

By Peter Laurenson

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November 2017

View more by author

Peter Laurenson

A tramper, occasional climber, photographer, editor and writer, Peter has been adventuring for more than 30 years.

By Peter Laurenson

Enduring a subzero night in my bivvy bag on the southern rim of North Crater in Tongariro National Park, I was rewarded with this early morning view of two trampers crossing the crater. To the right is Kakaramea (1300m) at the head of Lake Rotoaira. Camera settings: Nikon P7800, f8, 1/250sec, ISO 100.

About the author

Peter Laurenson

Peter is a tramper, occasional climber, photographer, editor and writer. His adventures, spanning 30+ years, come together on his website ‘OccasionalClimber’. Richmond-based, Peter is editor of FMC’s Backcountry and has published three books: Occasional Climber (2013) and Khumbu (2021) and Aotearoa Light (2025).