Auckland to Taupo

After a superb weekend with Col and Den, Den drove us to the Airport where we met up again with Kevin and Margaret to pick up the people mover we had hired. Decided to use the route to Lake Taupo via Tirau (Den's advice) - quirky little place with wonderful corrugated iron figures and statues all over town. Had a great lunch there and the mandatory shop - Margaret and I succumbed to a bracelet each (identical).

Just like the "big Merino" at Goulburn, except it housed a wonderful clothing store. Not sure about this bike!!

The weather deteriorated a little, but we decided we would take on the thermal areas of "Craters of the Moon" in the rain. Very eirie on a good day, but on a drizzly one - even more so.

Now we were a little geysered out, so time to head for our apartment on Lake Taupo, we were not disappointed with the apartment itself, nor the view.

Marg and Kev roughing it again!

Sunrise on Lake Taupo Tuesday morning was a little ordinary weather wise, but we headed up to the Aratiatia Rapids floodgates to watch the water literally overtake what started off as a gentle rocky river - this body of water really moved quickly.

It was then time for our cruise down the Waikato River to the Huka Falls. Our skipper had to negotiate departing and returning to the wharf very carefully, as a silly little "coot" had laid 6 eggs in the tyre - which was used as a fender to the wharf.

Lovely reflections on the WaikatoThe Huka Jet Boat was never an option for us

The Huka Falls

Tuesday evening at 5pm we boarded the Ernest Kemp for a cruise around Lake Taupo and out to Maori carvings. We were the only ones on the boat - weather probably put some off, but it improved as the cruise went on.

We didn't suffer!

The carvings

The boys get into Haka mood