Part of the California Redwood forest walk - took the green route of 1.5 hours


McDonalds in Taupo - beats the Yanks unless they have one bigger!!

Huka water falls, not very high but tremendous velocity. They use the jet boats to shoot these, should be fun to watch.

Saturday 19th June - Tauopo

After my exciting day yesterday I decided to head up to the Redwood forest above Rotorua and have a tramp. Damp but once you got going quite nice. Took about an hour to do the green walk. Very dark in places reminded me of parts of Lord of the Rings in either Mirkwood or Fangorn forest. Of course Mount Doom is not far from here, should pay a visit tomorrow. Actually bought an ice cream at the visitors centre and was given a map of various walks in the south island. They had a number of books on sale for different degrees of walks throughout NZ, resisted the temptation, had an ice cream instead.

Left the redwoods and drove up beyond the forest to one of the lakes we had flown over yesterday. Stopped the car beside blue lake, must be very pretty in the summer and walked its perimeter - another hour or so's walk. Half way round able to see the next lake - green lake. Quite a number of walkers and people with their dogs on this walk, obviously popular with the locals. Only one small pleasure craft on blue lake, do not think he was fishing. Saw my first heron here and took a shot, bird skittish so could not get close.

After my lunch took the loop road around another lake we flew over, Okareka lake. NZ has a big problem with invasive weed in the lakes, due to higher levels of nutrients from the farmers fields etc. Blue lake did appear to be free as the water around the edges was very clear.

Took off then down to Taupo. One of my first sights in the town was the airplane, Dakota I think, above Mc Donalds. Hostel very spacious but cold. After the central heating last night all I have is a small electric fire to heat a huge bedroom. I don't suppose the walls are insulated either. Also have electric blankets on the bed so it must get freezing here.

Met Alice, a young lady from Whitby who manages the front desk. She suggested I visit the Huka falls and nearby hot springs. The falls were very small in height but made up in velocity. The huge Taupo lake flows out through this river - the Wakato. Looking up steam the river is wide and free flowing, then it meets a very short stretch of narrows which results in the falls. Apparently they shoot through the narrows and over the falls in a jet boat, be great to do.

With dusk approaching I drove around the otherside of the Wakato river to a small stream. This stream is fed from underground hot springs and flows in the Wakato. There were people in bathing costumes in this small stream, so took by boots off and had a paddle. Lovely and hot. As I left to go back to the car there were a number of younger people going down with towels etc for a dip. Why go to the baths and pub when you can take a glass of wine and sit in hot pools for free.

That's all of the blog for tonight, tomorrow I hope to see Mt Doom then it is a trek down to Wellington, a full days drive.