On the road to Taupo


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Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Rotorua
October 8th 2008
Published: October 23rd 2008
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Ross:

After a relaxing couple of nights in smelly Rotorua, we headed out on the road again for a short jaunt to Lake Taupo, with a few stops along the way.

First off we called in at the Waiotapu thermal park to witness the 10:15am eruption of the Lady Knox geyser. Helped along by some organic soap (which is poored down the mouth of the geyser to alter the surface tension of the water boiling away in the chamber below), the geyser erupts to a height of about 20m or so. After being sprayed by slightly soapy warm water for a while (Pol's second shower since arriving in NZ!) we enjoyed a stroll around the weird and wonderful thermal park, where the vast quantities of sulphur and other chemicals have resulted in numerous brightly-coloured boiling pools, streams and caverns, as well as sinter terrace formations(?). We also got some good photos and footage of the bubbling mud pools which have a habit of randomly spraying hot mud at you when you least expect it.

Carrying on down State Highway 5, we eventually arrived at the turn-off for Aratiatia Dam and rapids in time for a lunch. Uncle Jimmy Ivens had recommended we call in to witness the opening of the sluice gates, which results in the water level in the rapids rising very quickly. True to form, the sluices opened bang on time (4 times daily) and we got a very impressive view of the rising waters (see pics).

Next stop was the Wairakei Geothermal Powerstation, a maze of insulation-clad piping delivering boiling water and steam to the main generator set lower down the valley. We drove up through the thermal field, to a lookout at the top with a great view of the whole area. The drive up was a bit hairy with Pol steering the trusty Queenie through thick clouds of steam and fog.

After I'd calmed down from the excitement of all that pipe, we had a brief stop at the Honey Hive and Meadery, on the Huka Falls turn-off to sample some of the healing properties of the locally-produced manuka honey and taste some of the other honey on offer. Unfortunately, the original Honey Hive building had recently been torched in an arson attack, so we made a beeline (sorry!) for the temporary premises nearby and left with a rather tasty jar of 'Beenut Butter'!

Finally, before reaching Taupo, we stopped off for a quick look at Huka Falls just before the sun disappearred behind the adjacent hill. The falls are a result of a 100m-wide, 4m-deep river being channeled through a 10m-wide, 10m-deep canyon into a basin below. Unfortunately, whilst posing for a picture on the bannisters above the falls, Pol was mistaken for a suicidal nutter about to jump, much to the alarm of the other tourists nearby. Hilarious!

When we finally reached Taupo we had some difficulty finding a suitable place to camp near the town but eventually slipped a nearby backpacker hostel $10 to park up on their forecourt. We wandered into the small town and splashed out on a good onion soup, steak and fishy filo parcel before turning in!

The following morning we packed up and made the most of the facilities of a nearby superloo before heading south to Wellington, past Mt Ruapehu.

Apart from Waiotapu and the slap-up nosh in Taupo, all the other activities were free leaving much more money to spend on extreme activities later on in the trip...


Additional photos below
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More boiling mudMore boiling mud
More boiling mud

More hypnotising than a lava-lamp
Oh Dam!Oh Dam!
Oh Dam!

Aratiatia Dam
Posh dinner out in TaupoPosh dinner out in Taupo
Posh dinner out in Taupo

The sticks up the nose look was intentional, apparently. Thanks Pol!
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29th October 2008

Im green with envy..
I'm so jealous guys, i have been to every single one of these places (bar the powerstation?!!) and i loved New Zealand with a passion - its so stunning - and your making me want to go back even more. Sounds like your having a fantastic time! make sure you do the tongariro crossing and have a burger in Queenstown for me in Fergburger - it would be a crime not to trust me... H
29th October 2008

Fergburger's done but the Tongariro has been shut due to deep snow and ice...

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