The blue lake, and enormours Lake Taupo on horizon

Alpine crossings, bucket showers and sleeping in the car

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February 26th 2011
For a small country New Zealand certainly does things big, and so it was no surprise to arrive in the town of Taupo and come across a lake the size of Singapore. The only development on this huge expanse was a floating golf green called 'Hole in one challenge' which we gave a miss en route to the Huka Falls. We had been enticed by the many hot springs the north island had to offer but not by the ... read more

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Tongariro National Park

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The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year... ... read more