6 December 2024 -New Zealand- North Island - Lake Taupo
It was a beautiful day when we woke and we had a good breakfast. We rang the Float Plane company and arranged to have a 30-minute flight at 4.00pm.
We headed out about 9.30am and decided to head over to the Mount Ruapehu area which is part of the Tongariro National Park. We drove along Lake Taupo initially and then the road took us inland and we passed through swathes of lovely countryside with rolling hills and little towns from time to time. Apart from in the towns there is little sign of habitation.
We eventually came by Turangi which is at the south of the lake and then began to climb through shrub and gorse landscape but we could see in the distance a few volcanic peaks including Mt Ruapehu. Mt Ruapehu had snow on the top and it looked stunning in contrast to the yellow gorse -see picture of the day. There are actually 3 volcanoes here – Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro. Ruapehu last erupted in 2007 and Ngauruhoe in 2012.
We continued to drive up and the scenery got more bleaker and less vegetated. There were trees in regular places and then areas which had been deforested which looked apocalyptic. We eventually got closer to the peaks and there were areas at the top which had no vegetation and we guessed still bare from the eruptions.
We drove up to Whakapapa Village and then drove on up to the ski village some 6km higher. We then took the Sky Waka gondola to its top which was a little shy of the peak. It was very bleak and just rocks as far as the eye could see. There were great views at the top looking down to the valleys and plains below and we sat and enjoyed the views for some time. We wondered what it would be like as a ski resort.
We drove down again and had some lunch in Turangi and then drove back to Taupo for our sea plane flight. We had an elderly man join us and the three of us got in the small sea plane flown by a 20-year-old Canadian called Emily. We taxied out once we got in and then took off flying west over the lake toward the western flats. We passed a number of nice bays and cliffs and little towns. We then went over the western part of the lake and then turned North and went over the thermal factories and you could see miles of pipes taking the thermal waters to different areas below. We then flew over the Huka Falls which we had seen yesterday and the Craters of the Moon.
It did not seem that long before we were flying back over Taupo and then coming into land on the lake and we had a smooth landing. I suppose our flight was about 30 minutes or so and it had given us a very good overview of the area. What a treat.
We landed and then returned to our hotel and we went for a swim in the pool and then a jacuzzi. The pool was 30 degrees and like a hot bath and the jacuzzi just about bearable. Once we had swum we sat by the pool and chilled. Two mallards came and swam in the pool. They obviously like it hot!.
We then showered and had a nice supper in the restaurant. It had been another busy day and tomorrow we will go to the Rotorua Area.
Opportunity Year Two
In year two I will be going from New Zealand in early January 2025 across to Sydney and up the Eastern Australian Coast, Indonesia and then through Bali, Singapore and on to Thailand to end year two about the end of November 2025. I will need some more crew.
If there is any interest do email me at hine.nick9@gmail.com
The blog will continue as we continue the journey. If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog then do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com