Whakapapa

Whakapapa is a Māori word for genealogy, and is also the name of a village in Tongariro National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site on the North Island. It also has excellent views of MOUNT DOOOOM (a combination of Mount Ruapehu and Mount Ngauruhoe, sacred to Māori). A hike on the nearby Taranaki Track reveals resplendent plant life. If I had grown up in New Zealand, I hands down would have become a botanist. And yes, I can’t not think “Waka Flocka” when I see the name.

MOUNT DOOM (above)! Not spewing lava today.

Mount Ruapehu is above in the background (where MOUNT DOOM was also filmed).