Last weekend we drove about three hours to visit Lake Taupo, the biggest lake in NZ. It is quite the picturesque town and you can see why it normally attracts so many tourists...but in winter, the crowds are thankfully really thin. Mac and I visited Craters of the Moon and had the entire place to ourselves for the whole time. Bubbling mud pits, steaming vents almost everywhere, and deep craters make COTM real thermal eye-candy.
On to Huka Falls and Huka Falls Gorge...
On to Huka Falls and Huka Falls Gorge...
We were pleasantly surprised by the views from a short loop walk around the Tongariro River, where we got to see anglers vying for the famous Taupo trout. We saw rainbow trout in both the Tongariro and Waikato rivers, and they were as big as sockeye salmon...no joke. We plan to go back to fly fish now that we have seen the giant trout for ourselves.
When we were in Wellington last weekend Mac bought a spearfishing set-up, and the goal this weekend was to get practice time in the water with it to see if there was anything that needed tweaking. This is the first time Mac's had the extra-long fins and he's amazed at what a difference they make! Here he is getting ready to get in Lake Taupo to break in all his new gear. If the NZ spearfishing and lobstering is as good as everyone says it is, I'll spring for a wetsuit too, but I'm definitely waiting until summer time!
In my opinion, the best part of our weekend were the free public hot springs at Spa Park in Taupo. The hot springs meet a stream and hot-but-not-too-hot water comes gushing down in little waterfalls or collects in pools perfectly sized for steeping your body in. Sorry, left my camera in the car so you'll have to take my word for it.
Next entry: Packrafting! (hopefully, if this sunny weather holds...)
Next entry: Packrafting! (hopefully, if this sunny weather holds...)