that lake is pretty big bro!

This morning we woke early and after admiring the view we had woken up to and without bothering to get dressed, we set off for Taupo and the massive lake we have heard so much about. Suddenly out of the mountains appeared this giant mass of blue and we started to see just how big the ‘Great lake’ was. I kid you not, it’s huuuuge! Driving up one side to Taupo we got time to admire the lake. The water was so clear and Ollie was very jealous of the boaties out and about fishing.

We stopped at the ‘Huka Falls’, a waterfall where the river turns into a small funnel and the water speeds up and flies down a small section of river to plunge super fast into the wider pool below. An olympic size swimming pool can be filled every minute from the water pouring over the falls and 220,000L pass every second. The noise was pretty loud! The water was a fantastic light blue colour but mainly a mass of white roaring crests. ‘Huka’ means foam in Maori and to see the funnel of water explains the choice of name. We drove into the car park but before we could get out, a ranger was over to tell us we had not parked in the designated camper van spaces and so we would have to move. He was pretty rude but I chose to ignore that and do what he said, even though it was half eight in the morning, no one else was there and we fitted fine into the spot we were in. Ollie on the other hand was not so accepting and let the man know this while I sat trying to hide my face in my dressing gown. Ollie got the man’s point but apparently he hadn’t needed to be ‘so rude’. Um...awkward!

Anyway we enjoyed a walk by the falls before getting back in the van and exploring further. We came across a small honey shop and took the opportunity to learn a bit more about honey bees, including the fact that they only make 1/2 teaspoon of honey each in their life time and that if they ate 30g of honey that would be enough to keep them going on a whole flight around the world. Oh and they are aerodynamically ‘impossible’ because they can fly carrying a load equivalent to their body weight. Gotta love nature aye! After putting my head through a hole and having my picture taken as a bee we moved on (I have a penchant for head through hole photos!) and found a park that had a thermal river running through it. As we walked along, steam was rising from the bushes and it was the strangest feeling to put our hands in a fresh water stream that was warm! 

I wanted to take a walk by the lake so we found a quiet spot and followed a footpath that brought us out on the edge of the lake. I almost wished it was summer so we could go for a swim as we found some places that would have been great for jumping in. We sat for a while and took in the amazing views and I chatted to a couple of ducks that paddled past. On the way back to the van Ollie thought it would be funny to run ahead of me and thanks to him I ended up taking a wrong turn and getting lost! When I eventually found him hiding in a bush I was not amused at all but he thought it was hilarious! 

It was early afternoon when we drove across to Napier and the sun had finally decided to appear for the day as we got wound round many, many mountains and long queues of cars formed behind us. In the distance we caught a glimpse of more snow capped mountains and discussed for the millionth time how crazy snow in New Zealand seems to us! Arriving in Napier our first stop was the harbour and a walking inspection of all the fishing boats for Ollie! That over with we parked up opposite the very, very long beach front and went into the town to explore. Napier is, according to its brochure, the ‘Art Deco’ capital of the world. While I’m not so sure ‘world’ is an accurate definition it certainly is Art Deco. Each building has its own unique features and they all go together to form a very impressive, colourful and stylish town centre. Most of the city’s buildings were destroyed in an earthquake in 1931 and so are all relatively new. Hence the heavy style influence. My favourite part of the town though has to be the beach front. There is a promenade, pretty gardens, kids scooter park, concert plaza and park, all kept in great condition and great to wonder about. The beach itself is a pebbly mass of grey meeting blue; large cliffs jutting out in the distance look a bit like the Seven Sisters back home. Basically Napier is Eastbourne but far more happening and a lot prettier! Like a good looking older sister!

We parked up for the night in a free spot facing out towards the beach with every intention of watching the sun rise in the morning. There was something about that perfect blue horizon that predicted the first appearance of the sun the next morning would be pretty awesome...

13/7/12