Post ride fun on the way back to the airport

 A few more days around Lake Taupo. A walk to Huka Falls.

Incredible colours and the thunder of a huge volume of water raging through a narrow gorge and pouring over a 9 metre waterfall. 

We saw numerous areas of pines trees splintered by the recent cyclone. No building damage though. But we were at Taupo because the roads to Napier were still closed due to cyclone damage. 

Taupo sits at one end of a huge lake which is in the caldera of an old volcano. There is still a lot of volanic activity in the area, including the Tongariro Volcano at the far end of the lake.

Another outdoor art gallery of ceramic and mosaic art.

We spent some relaxing time soaking in the hot thermal pools at the Wakarkei Terraces. 32 to 38 degrees in the water.

This is where hot water comes from. It flows from deep underground, volcanically heated and is channelled into the swimming pools.

The centre of Taupo has Maori inspired art and murals around the shopping area. We also enjoyed two dinners at the excellent Vines restaurant, and the small local museum, and shops.

At Aratiatia Rapids, water is released four times a day from a dam. It is dramatic to watch the way the rocky gorge transforms from almost empty to full of water in about 10 minutes. The water powers a hydro power station a short distance downstream. Before the water release:

About 10 minutes later:

When we left Taupo, on our wettest day, we rode converted golf carts on an old disused section of railway line, over narrow bridges, through several tunnels. It was quite fun albeit a bit sedate, until our cart caught on fire. We stopped, jumped out and ran down the train line while one of the guides extinguished the fire under the rear seat. We were then pushed along by his cart as it was not safe to restart the engine. After the afternoon tea stop, when we alighted into other carts for the rest of the trip. Lucky they had spare carts.

No hands required. Just feet on the accelerator. Would you trust this woman at the steering wheel?

A day walk of 19.7km up and over the Tongariro Volcano crater was a real highlight. We were not sure the weather would enable the walk but it ended up being perfect. Part of the often steep climb, crossing over lava flows. I think these were from the 1950s but the most recent eruption here occurred in 2012.

Me with Loretta and Deb. A classic conical volcano behind us which features as Mt Doom in the Lord of the Rings movies. It really is a unique, starkly beautiful landscape.

The Red Crater

The Emerald Lakes - stunning colours

The slippery loose volcanic gravel on the way down to the Emerald Lakes.

The Blue Lake. Not very imaginative names.

The long walk down the other side to catch the shuttle bus. Lake Taupo in the distance.

Loretta's face pretty much sums up how all of us were feeling with 2.7km still to go. The lush rainforest was a nice distraction from our sore and tired feet. We were in a group with three others and a guide.

The next day we hired electric mountain bikes and rode the Old Coach Road near Okahune. 

A beautiful 15 km route through rainforest on an old coach road and railway line.

Old train bridges and a tunnel.

Back in Okahune, at the end of the ride, there is a giant vegetable park, started by a local vegetable farmer. Just for fun. And to promote their history of vegetable growing.

Our final day was in Waitomo at the famous glow worm caves. Pen and I did two tours, one walking and one sitting in a boat. Three of the others went black water rafting through the same cave system which involved jumping off waterfalls and floating down the underground river on inflatable tubes.

This is a spiral ramp down into the Ruakuri Cave.

Glow worms spend their lives clinging to the roof of the cave waiting for insects to get stuck on their sticky threads. New Zealand and Australia are the only places in the world where glow worms live.

Exiting the boat ride where we floated under an incredible glowing ceiling covered in glow worms.

One last walk nearby, through caves, rock tunnels and rainforest.

Thank you, New Zealand, for a wonderful three weeks of fun. And for not raining too much - only one afternoon during our horse ride and all day during the golf cart ride.