Goodbye to the North Island

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Hello again,

We spent another couple of days in Taupo, seeing some of the local sights. We bathed in the hot springs beside the Waikato River. The river water mixed with the spring water and you could find the spot where the temperature was just right! We had planned a longish walk from here but decided to just relax instead (it’s been a stressful two month holiday!). Further downstream we also visited the Aratiatia Rapids - an odd spot where water is released periodically from a dam - making the docile rapids spring to life. We also enjoyed a dinner overlooking Lake Taupo (pasta cooked up on the camping stove!). Before we left Taupo we found a spare hour or two to panic over my (John’s) missing wallet…even popped into the police station before predictably finding it tucked up in some dirty clothes!

It was a short drive South into the Tongariro National park where we camped in a beautiful (though basic) campsite by a mountain stream. We spent an afternoon dodging rain showers, doing a short walk to a little waterfall and finding out about the Tongariro Alpine Crossing which we completed the next day. It was an impressive walk…a foreboding rocky landscape with volcanoes, colourful crater lakes and steaming pools. We shared the experience with loads of other tourists…you certainly couldn’t get lost even if you tried!

The next morning was taken up by a drive South to Wellington which seemed like a pleasant city…but nowhere looks that great in the rain and our couple of days here were reminiscent of an English summer! All the same we enjoyed wandering around the Te Papa museum (especially the Colossal Squid and fake earthquake) and passing a very enjoyable afternoon in the bar of Mac’s brewery! After a morning pottering along the marina and seafront we caught a ferry over the Bass Straight to the South Island.

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Photos

Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Mt Tongariro summit

Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Blue Lake

Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Emerald Lakes

Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Looking back at our route

Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Caroline's knee injury...scabbing up nicely!

Beers in Wellington
Working our way through the selection

Comments

[hag]

hello you two. Lovely to see your blog and remind myself of where we were - 2 years ago! taht river that fills up from nothing is pretty spectacular, isn't it. We didn't do teh walk over the volcanoes, but we did go up and have a look at them. I remember it being pretty desolate. In case I don't find you again in the next week, happy Birthday Caroline - that might also serve as areminder to someone, who knows! Love, hag