The Crossing

Goodbye North Island

Welcome to the South Island

Taupo

The view from our motel in Taupo. Apparently there is a mountain behind those clouds! The place was great and it was nice to dry out after getting wet twice today, once on the walk to the Tarawera Falls and then the walk in the Hidden Valley.

We went for a walk around the lake before heading further south. This hot stream is rather hot and the sign on the fence said so but George didn't bother reading that, she stuck her hand in the water to find out for herself. A kind local person took a photo of us, one of the few together. She didn't mind the look with the hats, especially after we told her we were from the UK.


On the was south we stopped for a coffee at the Raukawa falls. As we got near to National Park it was pretty exciting getting glimses of the mountain but also the weather started to close in. In the end by the time we got to the lodge at National Park the weather was terrible. There was no one on reception and we didn't like the look of the town or the lodge so we just kept going. We had a lovely drive to Wanganui which Michelle missed out on as she was 'scenic viewed' out and fell asleep. Too much beauty to take in. The sun was out again and NZ was really putting on another masterpiece show. Eventually we ended up in Wellington which was a better plan anyway as it gave us a whole day to see Wellington and to catch up with Vivienne. She put us up to two nights which really was something as she was getting ready to go the UK the same day we left Wellington. Then we boarded the Interislander and headed for the South Island...

Hidden Valley

This was a thermal park off the beaten track, a bit less touristy, and quite pleasant (until the rain started up again).













View up from cave with pool at bottom



Geyser bubbled up some steam and water while we were there



Mud pool bubbling



Clear pool bubbling water

Tarawera Falls

Leaving Rotorua, we headed out into logging country. These falls were on Iwi land, so we needed a permit, and a long drive down a metalled road used for logging.

Redwood Forest Rotorua

We needed a walk, so found a Redwood forest...

Rotorua from the air

We visited Rotorua, and took a plane ride to see the place from the air - probably the best way to see...


Thermal geyser



Crevass left from eruption of 1880's



The cooler pool is the one with steam - 65 degrees Celsius

Black Water Rafting

This is a holding space, as our photo's are all on a CD, taken by the guides and the PC doesn't have one. But this is at the museum a few minutes later - very cold still at this point!