My three days in Taupo have quickly disappeared! It is quite different from Rotorua, although only an hour's drive away. Lake Taupo is the largest lake in NZ and the lakeshore forms a very important part of the life of Taupo. In Rotorua there is a park beside the lake, but the town itself is rather removed from it.
I’m staying about a 5 minute walk from the downtown core. The airbnbs I’ve stayed at have worked out so well, and this one did as well. A younger couple this time, with an adorable 18 month old daughter. They are all so helpful, which means a lot, being on my own.
There are lots of adventure sports/activities here, but I stuck with walking. On the first day beside the lake, which actually has a path of interlock brick that must extend for at least 10 kilometres. The views of the mountains on the other side are breathtaking (like everything!), with snow at the top of one of them! There is geothermal activity here as well, and at the edge of the lake that can be seen in the small pools of almost boiling water where steam is released from the earth below. People use them to create their own little spa. In the afternoon I visited the town’s museum and was most impressed by the special exhibit of paintings of NZ female artists.
Walking path beside Lake Taupo
Warning signs at water's edge
because of geothermal activity
The next day, Mo, my hostess, drove me up to the Aratiatia Dam. Several times each day the floodgates of the dam are opened, to control the water levels. Amazing to see. A picture will illustrate that best. I then did the two hour hike along the Waikato River to Huka Falls. Perhaps not as dramatic as Niagara Falls, but quite extraordinary. The Waikato hydro system supplies 10% of NZ’s total power.
After floodgates open
(just minutes before there was no water,
just huge dark rocks)
Huka Falls
From the falls I took a detour to see Craters of the Moon, another geothermal site, which became active in the 1950s, when the power station opened. Not nearly as impressive as what I had seen in Rotorua but interesting nonetheless.
Back at Huka Falls I continued the hike beside the Waikato River back into town, another hour. The river is a glorious colour of blue. It’s so clean! And the weather was perfect.
The river (so clear)
Walking path by river
My last day Mo dropped me off in the morning at the Botanical Gardens. A bit of a disappointment I must say. It seems to be a volunteer effort so I should not be critical. It’s a huge parcel of land with numerous trails, but there were no maps, so it was difficult to find your way around. Other than trees and ferns, rhodos, azelias and camelias predominate, but they are not labelled, and not in bloom at this time of year. In any case, a nice walk. I then walked downtown and made sure I left no store unvisited.
As for food, I had fish and chips with my hosts one night and ate twice at a restaurant they recommended: @Siam. Can’t beat Thai food.
