Tongariro

We took a really nice hike/walk this morning. Headed out thru a scrub prarie into a moss covered beech forest, along a beautiful stream and out upon a cool waterfall. And the another even bigger one. Very nice. We decided not to go go on fartheras it would be a 4 hour round trip extra. Instead we headed back to the road and then drove up to the end where there is a ski resort. And then we took the chair lifts up. Sandra was a bit nervous at first (we were way up in the air over jagged rocks), but she did really great. We were up at about 2000 meters with bits of snow packs. Had a coffee at the highest cafe in NZ, then hiked up the mountain a bit more. Had some fun sliding down the snow we had come up. Killer views but a bit cloudy. On a clear day you could see a long long way. We'd like to come back and do the crossing some time. In the late afternoon we got on the road for a bit of a jaunt (4 hr drive in light rain) down towards the welligton area where we will cross to the south island tomorrow.

Lake Taupo

This morning we started out, after a nice little rain shower during the night, with a jaunt to see Huka falls. It is a wild churning mass of white water with a 7 meter drop at the end. And supposedly some people kayak off it. Crazy! We also visited a geothermal area called Craters of the Moon which has a really nice path that goes around thru steam vents and boiling mud. Like yellowstone in ways but a lot different vegetation. At times it even looks like the moors in Scotland. This whole area from the Tangariro area all the way out to White Island north of the Bay of Plenty is an active geo thermal area. The last sizeable eruption was only in 1975. After a quick tour of the city of Taupo and a lunch on the shores of lake Taupo ( a huge lake which is a volcanic crater ) we spent some time at a natural hot springs area. They had some really hot pools and then also some big pools that were nice and warm. Very relaxing. It felt good to just veg for a bit as we really have been on the go alot. This evening we are spending in the shadow of the 3 volcanos that make up the Tangariro Nat'l Park area. There is some really serious mountains here. We had thought that we would try part of the Alpine Crossing here but realized that we aren't nearly set up for it Oh well, some other trip...

Blue Lake

Well that is the English name at least. Today after first running some errands in Rotorua, we headed up to the lake area nearby. We took a really nice hike/walk around the lake and stopped halfway to have a bit of lunch on a little sand beach and then lounge in the sun. It was really nice to just relax and watch the ducks and clouds float by. Luckily the spot we picked must have had a type of bush that the cicadas didn't like. There are places were they are so so loud. And often the vegetation is very tropical looking, like Hawaii. In the evening we drove south towards Lake Taupo and stayed alongside a beautiful river at a place called Reid's Farm. They donated the land to be a free campsite for campers/backpackers/etc. Very cool. The river in this area is famous with kayakers and their is even a slalom course like you see in the olympics. Unfortunetly there wasn't anyone out while we were there.

More pics

Te Puke

Greetings from Te puke.




Last night we stayed at our friends Braden and Rachel at their Kiwi Fruit farm. And since they have wifi I'll try to upload a few more piks, like some of Fia T our home away from home, and such.

Cathedral cove to the Kiwi farm

Woke to a great sunrise right from our van. Headed down to the beach, really close - like a hundred yards, a got ready for a kayak trip. The guides said that today was a perfect day, we are blessed! And what a fab trip, around some islands and finally down to Cathedral cove. Sorry but the photos for this trip are on an old fashioned film camera. But if you look at the title bar it is the fifth pix from the left. Tonight we are staying at Braden and Rachel's kiwi farm. Here is another cool new adventure

Coromandel Peninsula.

Wow now this is a beautiful area. The morning we drove up the west side, a widing road just meters from the ocean with this great old trees hanging over the water. We thought that was cool until we can down to the eastern side. Whoa! Killer white sand beaches, aqua blue water, and very few people. And as awsome as the beauty is the sun is just as intense. Something to do with no smog and the hole in the ozone layer. Watch out for the burn. This afternoon we headed to Cook's bay and Flaxmill bay. Absolutely gorgeous. Tomorrow we are going to go kayaking at Cathedral Bay another killer beach.