An icy ridge on the Whakapapa ski field, Mt Ruapehu.

Same ridge, different light.

The view across to Mt Ngauruhoe.

With meters of lovely snow and fresh powder on top, the snow cannons were idling.

Alternative perspective on the slope.

Katherine and Grant were celebrating their tenth wedding anniversary with a day of fabulous skiing.

Coming down from Whakapapa, I snapped this panorama of Mt Ngauruhoe from out of a moving car.

One of Turoa's quads, encrusted with ice.

Matt and Rochelle enjoy a minute in the sun before the next run.

The weather tends to change very quickly on Mt Ruapehu.

Not a minute later: Very, very quickly.

Not that you'd want to.

Our spa pool was in a separate building, so there was nothing for it but to dash across the fresh snow in the garden.

Parting shot: Another view of lovely volcano Mt Ngauruhoe.