Third week in New Zealand - keeping up the pace in the North Island

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A Sheepskin Factory and cruising along the Thermal Explorer Highway

Friday, 19 April - Day 16: Napier to Lake Taupo, 141km (85 miles). The classic sheepskin tanning factory is one of the few left in the country. Hides from sheep, goats, alpacas, llamas and maybe the brush-tailed possum are sorted cleaned and prepared to be turned into clothing, slippers and beautiful sheepskin rugs. It is so hard to resist buying one of these lovely, high quality soft rugs.

A few miles down the road, we are the only two who stop at the River Valley Cafe for a quick bite, a delightful place with an abundance of African crafts for sale and metal sculptures in the gardens.

Around midday, we meet up with friends for a great photo opportunity at Waipunga Falls scenic lookout along the Thermal Explorer Highway 5.

When we reach Lake Taupo and before we park, we travel on a bit to have a leisurely hour’s walk around “Craters of the Moon”, a privately owned thermal activity area with steam rising from various holes in the ground from pin size to large craters. The last eruption here was in 2002 when about 2 inches of pumice, mud and ash covered the paths and boardwalks.

Lastly we have a taste of honey - many different varieties at the Huka Honey Hive; honey from lavender, other flowers, tree blossoms and clover.

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Photos

gorgeous sheepskin rugs
at the Classic Sheepskin Factory, Carterton

River Valley Cafe garden
lots of metal sculptures

logging is a huge commodity here
en route to Lake Taupo

June and Bruce
Waipunga Falls

Lake Taupo
trout are big in this lake

so much to see in this area
from thermal activity to Huka Falls and many more

steaming crater
at Craters of the Moon

boiling bubbles of mud
Craters of the Moon

Julie tasting the manuka honey
at The Huka Honey Hive