Today we did a little road trip out of Taupo. First we drove to Turangi, at the other end of the lake - a lovely drive winding along the edge of Lake Taupo. After a flat white (our favourite New Zealand and Australian coffee, kind of like a latte, but different) in Turangi we did the volcanos loop highway. First we went to Mt Ruapehu, the only ski mountain on the North Island, with lifts on 3 sides of it. We went up to Whakapapa, where we intended to take the lift up the mountain to check out the view, but I chickened out when I saw it was a legs dangling in the air lift, as opposed to a closed in gondola lift. My vertigo said no to the chair lift. The ski chateaus (in summer) were all sitting on bare volcanic rock - Dave and I think a chalet in Banff would be much superior, having some summer appeal as well. Anyway, Mount Ruapehu is the one with some snow on it in the photo.
We went for a little walk in to Tawhai Falls, which was a really pretty little falls (and only a 10 minute walk from the car park). Also a photo of the falls included.
We continued on our ride, and meant to stop at Ohakune for afternoon tea, but the place is pretty much a ghost town in summer. So we just picked up a drink and carried on.
On the desert side of the loop drive you see Mount Doom from LOTR - in actual fact Mount Ngauruhoe (the symetrical looking volcanic mountain in the photo). Although apparently, since Ngauruhoe is sacred, some of the scenes were actually filmed on Ruapehu. A trip around New Zealand is an education in film locations as well.
We had a lovely days drive, and came back to Taupo for a Thai meal in a restaurant recommended by Dave's golf friends of yesterday. They have good taste (and we also enjoyed our BYO bottle of wine!)
