Life is Like a Barrel of Dwarfs

Day 11 and a 100 kilometre drive to Lake Taupo, the geographic centre of the North Island. The lake is the caldera of a super volcano that has produced two of the most violent eruptions in geologically recent times. (Wikipedia). We have upped our game and are staying in a fancy shmancy hotel on the lake. The sunset that night across the lake was spectacular as we ate dinner on our balcony.

The sun was shining and the drive along the lake provided us with unparalleled views of Mounts Tongariro and Doom. It doesn't look so evil from 50 kilometres away.

Our first destination today was a hike to Huka falls,  along the Waikato River that flows from Lake Taupo.

The falls were a bit ho hum. More like a category 4 rapids to us folks from British Columbia.

But the little hot springs we came upon as we returned to our car was a pretty nice stop to soak our much abused tootsies.

Day 12 and we are off on another short drive to the town of Tauranga where we would spend the next four days exploring the Cormandel Peninsula.



Two stops today. The first, Aratiatia Rapids, just a short drive from Taupo on the Waikato River.  At the top of the rapids is a hydro electric dam.

A couple of times a day the spill gates are fully opened filling the narrow, dry gorge with a 90,000 litres per second surge of water. This is done to maintain consistent water level for the power plant. We were in luck as we arrived just minutes before the spillways were to open so a 1000 metre dash to the viewing platform was in order to ensure we didn't miss the action. .

Hobbit fans may imagine dwarf filled barrels careening down these rapids as seen in the Desolation of Smaug, the second episode of the Hobbit trilogy. No barrels or dwarfs today. Just a hell of a lot of water.

Our drive took us past Lake Rotorua, another lake formed by the caldera of yet another volcano. Lake Rotorua is just one of 18 lakes in the area. Some of the lakes come in different colours due to the minerals that enter the lakes from all the geo-thermal activity.


There is a blue one, a green one, a yellow one and a few in between. Sadly only time for a drive by. Another reason to go back.

Our last stop before heading to Tauranga is Te Puia, home to a geothermal park, a Maori cultural centre and the Maori National School of Wood Carving and Weaving. arts and crafts institute.

The geothermal park is home to  what is billed as the world famous Pohutu Geyser. Not sure in what world, it was a bit under whelming at the best. Maybe it was having an off day.

The whole geothermal park was over hyped. There are several free geothermal zones in the area. I would suggest you visit them first .

Tours are  provided and delivered by Maori guides. We did learn a great deal more of  Maori history and culture so the visit was not a complete loss.


 The Maoris have suffered many of the similar fates as did our indigenous population in Canada. They are struggling to retain their cultural and the centre is helping them do that.