Weekend at Taupo

What a fantastic weekend we had, three of us ‘girls’ wandering around at our own pace and enjoying each other’s company.  We traveled to Taupo on Friday afternoon, arriving fairly late in the afternoon so that evening was a catch-up time (talk, talk, talk, and talk some more!!). 

On Saturday morning we headed off to explore.  Our first photo-op was the “Love Taupo” sign on the waterfront.

There was still some autumn colour around.

The weather was kind for us, with no rain, but there was in icy wind blowing across the Lake from snow-capped Mt Ruapehu.

We saw several different sculptures – I think this one celebrates the marathon event held here every year which attracts participants from around the world.

(Addendum: It is actually called the Ironman - an extra long triathlon with running, biking and swimming)

One must-see on any tourist agenda to Taupo is a visit to Huka Falls, where the Waikato River is forced through a natural narrow chasm.  The noise is deafening!

About 200,000 litres of water plunge over the 9 metre rock face every second – that is enough to fill five Olympic-size swimming pools every minute.

From a lookout point we could watch the Huka Jet bring people-who-don’t-mind-getting-wet up to the base of the Falls.

We went out for dinner each night (who wants to cook when they are on holiday?) and the nicest meal we had was at the Fox And Hounds restaurant.  The staff were friendly but professional and the food was delicious (the wine was great too!).  I had a Lamb Shank on a mash of different vegetables with a rich gravy.  The meat was perfectly cooked, being melt-in-the-mouth tender but still staying intact on the bone.

We visited a few other places as well, some not worth mentioning, but two places I want to write separate posts for in the next couple of days.  They are the Lava Glass Studio and the Aratiatia Dam. 

It was lovely to go away but it is lovely to be home again.  No place quite like your own home J 

Margaret.