Taupo & Hawke's Bay

Rob & I just returned from a little trip that we had planned a few months ago. We drove south of Auckland to Lake Taupo, where we traded one of our timeshare weeks. Friday, August 7th was a gorgeous, sunny, clear day when we arrived in Lake Taupo. Lake Taupo is the largest volcanic lake in the world...186 meters deep! The view from the top of the lake across to the Tongariro Mtn. Range was spectacular! Such brilliant white, snow capped mountains, deep blue sky, and flat calm lake...normally the scene at Lake Taupo is wind, wind, and more wind. So we hit the weather on the right week!
We did a fair amount of tramping in the bush...along the walking track at Huka Falls, out to Crater's of the Moon, and Spa Thermal Park, the Wairakei Thermal Park and the Aratiatia Dam area of the Waikato River. Thermal Parks are a real trip...the earth lets out heaps of hissing steam, and gurgling pots of mud. Sometimes it smells unpleasant..like rotten eggs, but for the most part it wasn't too bad. We also had a walk about the Botanical Gardens, and a nice Lake Cruise to see some impressive Maori Cliff carvings, as well as a nice drive to Mt. Ruhapehu and the Tongariro Mountain Range. Our last two days were spent on a small tour of the Hawke's Bay region...about an hour and a half drive from Taupo. Rob has been looking forward to visiting Hawke's Bay, as it is a world class wine region. We could have spent a week in the Hawke's Bay Region...next time we will stay longer.

We really lucked out on the weather...first three days were brilliant, clear, sunny. Next couple of days we were hiking in overcast, cold weather, and our visit to Hawke's Bay was sunny & warm...16 degrees. The day we drove up to the mountains, we were hoping to do a track called the Tongariro Crossing...but the snow closed the trail..so we opted for a much shorter track called Tawhai Falls. Even though the weather looked like it was warm...it was not. It was 2 or 3 degrees Celsius, and you really had to move quickly to stay warm.

Our timeshare was a bit on the hokey side...except for the thermal spa that every room had. Natural, thermal water to soak in any time you filled the huge tub. It was such a welcome amenity for those cold days out tramping...and cold mornings trying to warm up so we could go tramping.

The common theme for me as we return home from our journeys have been...ah...my own bed. I love to go and explore...but there is nothing as nice as my own bed when I return. If I could only attach it to the car when we go on holiday...

I have sent most of you...if not all of you the photos of our trip to Taupo. If you somehow did not manage to receive them, give me a shout, and I'll send them to you.

I am looking forward to the beginning of Spring on September 1!! I am not much of a fan of the Winter. Gale winds, and squalls can go away until next winter for me. Enjoy the rest of your Summer in the US. And...please keep in touch. Cheers! ~Skye