There is actually a lot to see and do in Taupo, and we had a jam packed weekend exploring the sites. I will break them up here and put them in the order we visited more or less.
After the long Tongariro day hike, we grabbed some dinner at a pub in Turangi, met some nice locals to chat with and then headed to Taupo for the night. Right along Lake Taupo, we saw a crowd of people gathered around the "Hole in One Challenge", so of course I had to check it out! Turns out it was a driving range into the lake. You could win vouchers for local attractions if you got the ball in one of the sand bunkers and $10,000 cash if you got a true hole in one! Unfortunately this guy didn't win anything, but he was close and fun to watch. Not a bad location for a driving range either. Apparently they go diving for the balls each day to collect them back, so you don't even have to use the weird floating golf balls.
I think I've found my new favorite hot tub (which probably isn't saying much as I'm not particularly fond of hot tubs in general- they're too hot!) in Taupo Spa Park.Right along the Waikato River there is a hot spring which feeds into it and creates numerous little pools and a series of waterfalls on the way down. We walked the 5 minutes through the field from the car park to find the river, a few people and the hot springs. At the merging of the river with the springs it can be difficult to find the right temperature and it's a strange sensation of being too hot and too cold at the same time. However, just under the bridge is a nice sheltered hot tub, totally enclosed and just the right temperature.
Upon returning the next morning, we found another series of pools up the path a short walk. This one here was beautiful; almost waist deep and nice and warm. Also no one was there so it was like our own little hot tub with built in waterfall jets for back and shoulder massage. Just what the doctor ordered after a long hike!
We finally broke down and paid for our first geothermal park- up until this point we'd just been visiting the free ones and I must say they are pretty awesome. I wanted to see what we were missing with the paid entries. I was a bit disappointed. Not sure what I was expecting, but I was hoping to see some bubbling lava (not sure that ever really happens except maybe rarely?). Despite the lack of lava flow, it was a pleasant walk with some great views and some interesting plant life and thermal activity. Probably safer not having the lava!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hole in One Challenge ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hot Springs Heaven ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I think I've found my new favorite hot tub (which probably isn't saying much as I'm not particularly fond of hot tubs in general- they're too hot!) in Taupo Spa Park.Right along the Waikato River there is a hot spring which feeds into it and creates numerous little pools and a series of waterfalls on the way down. We walked the 5 minutes through the field from the car park to find the river, a few people and the hot springs. At the merging of the river with the springs it can be difficult to find the right temperature and it's a strange sensation of being too hot and too cold at the same time. However, just under the bridge is a nice sheltered hot tub, totally enclosed and just the right temperature.Upon returning the next morning, we found another series of pools up the path a short walk. This one here was beautiful; almost waist deep and nice and warm. Also no one was there so it was like our own little hot tub with built in waterfall jets for back and shoulder massage. Just what the doctor ordered after a long hike!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Aratiatia Rapids ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After our Sunday morning dip, we drove off to see the sights, starting with Aratiatia Rapids. This is a funny little place that actually entertained me for longer than I was expecting. It's a dam built along the Waikato River, which results in a narrow lake- Aratiatia Lake. Every day at 10am, 12pm, 2pm & 4pm, they open the dam slightly for about 15-20 minutes to let some of the water pass through and fill the pools below. Here is a before and after shot:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Huka Falls ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our next stop was to Huka Falls, which seem to be more of a rushing water slide than a water fall, at least that's the more impressive part to see. The falls are nice, but not very high and I must admit I'm getting a bit spoiled by beautiful waterfalls here in New Zealand. According to the signs I read, this current is so strong that the salmon and eels can't swim against it and so there are no salmon nor eels in Lake Taupo. Good to know that slimy sensation on your ankle whilst swimming in the chilly Lake Taupo isn't an eel!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Craters of the Moon ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We finally broke down and paid for our first geothermal park- up until this point we'd just been visiting the free ones and I must say they are pretty awesome. I wanted to see what we were missing with the paid entries. I was a bit disappointed. Not sure what I was expecting, but I was hoping to see some bubbling lava (not sure that ever really happens except maybe rarely?). Despite the lack of lava flow, it was a pleasant walk with some great views and some interesting plant life and thermal activity. Probably safer not having the lava!
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