It was renamed Mount Doom in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and it could have been disaster for an Australian dad and his son who had to be rescued off it on Tuesday night.
The 49-year-old and his 13-year-old son were saved after raising the alarm around 6:40pm having got lost after taking advice from other trampers on Mt Tongariro.
Police say the pair set out that morning to visit Mt Doom (Ngauruhoe) in Tongariro National Park. Upon reaching the high point of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing they were encouraged to keep going to Ketetahi rather than go back to their car.
But they took a wrong turn at Emerald Lakes and ended up in the Oturere Valley. They continued on after thinking they could see the carpark when the passed the Oturere hut.
The pair managed to call police when they got cellphone coverage, saying they were lost between the hut and the Desert Rd.
The night and temperatures had fallen, and without headlamps they could not make it out.
Police and the Taupo-based Greenlea Rescue Helicopter were sent to the scene where the father used his camera flash to let them know where they were.
The helicopter managed to hover over tussock around 100m away while their rescuer soon found the pair who were cold, but uninjured.
They were flown back to Mangatepopo where their car was parked.
Police say the pair are keen to continue on their holiday despite their unexpected journey.
Newshub.
