Where was shaun?

On Monday we decided to head up to Lake Taupo to get a good chunk of the journey through the North Island done in one day. It was a great drive up, even though Route 1 is the main road up through the island, it was nothing like the M1. A bit like driving through Yorkshire but with Sunshine!

On the way we went past Mount Ruapehu An active volcano which last erupted in 2007. The conical mountain beyond is Mount Ngauruhoe Which was filmed as Mount Doom in Lord of the Rings. The area around the the mountains is Ranipo Desert, it has very little vegetation due to sterilisation of the seeds from the volcano erupting.

Mount Ruapehu

Lake Taupo

We stayed the night just Near Taupo and on Tuesday we headed up to Orakei Korako (Thanks for the recommendation George!) a thermal area next to the Waikato River. It was the first time I had ever seen anything like it and it was really extraordinary to be walking around a forest that’s belching hot water and mud. The people at the visitor centre were really cool, and allowed us to park up in their car park for the night. It was a beautiful location. All you could hear was the crickets. We woke up during the night and we were watching the stars. They were so bright. It was fantastic.

Lake Taupo

“Artist Palette – Orakei Korako”

This was our view in the morning.

Rotorua

Is an amazing place and there is loads to do but as time is getting short for us we decided to just have a quick visit so we went to Te Puia to see Pohuto one of the biggest Geysers In New Zealand. It was fantastic to see and the rest of the park was pretty cool but way overpriced as were quite a lot of things in the area.

In the evening we went for a walk into town and it was probably one of the most weird experiences I have ever had. That area of town is all built on a huge thermal area and in most gardens there is either a bubbling mud pool, a steaming pond, or a spa. Steam was also coming out of the drains and manholes and even through a crack in a driveway. As we walked our feet felt warm and we discovered the road was actually hot! Emma even laid down on it saying it felt like a bed!

Pohuto

We have now headed up to Waihi on the western side of the Bay of plenty and we are staying right on the beach and just chilling out for the last couple of days. It’s a beautiful place, the weathers gorgeous, the girls were on the beach shortly after 8 and I’ve hired a bike so I’m off for a spin. Ta ra!

Waihi Beach this morning.