Taupo and Tokoroa

With our annual caravan service due it was time to head off to the Leisureline factory at Hamilton.  Driving up SH1 we were making such good time that we decided not to stop where we had originally planned but kept driving on to Waiouru Army Museum for our first night away. 

Campers are permitted to stay overnight  at the back of the museum for a donation, and we have the added bonus of regular security checks during the night.  After a busy day on the road, Robin and Gemma were both worn out and needed an afternoon nap!  (Don’t tell him I’ve taken this photo.)

Two sleeping beauties

The National Army Museum is a great place to visit while passing through.  With a nice café, extra clean toilets, security staff, and plenty of parking for day trippers and overnighters, it can’t be beaten.  The only downside is that the  high altitude (2600 ft) and close proximity to Mt Ruapehu keeps Waiouru’s climate cool throughout the year and rather chilly overnight.  We were eventually joined by about a dozen other campers for the evening. 

National Army Museum at Waiouru

I noticed a new statue in the grounds, the New Zealand War Animal Memorial,  honouring all animals used by the army in conflict.

Mt Ruapehu was blanketed in clouds when we arrived, but was beautifully clear the following morning when we set off, driving along the Desert Road. 

Mt Ruapehu

We bypassed Taupo and stopped at Wairakei Truck Stop for a lunch break.  With home made corned beef sandwiches, supplemented with buying a coffee fix from the café, we enjoyed a nice quiet lunch in the caravan.  Poor Gemma was rather bothered with all the huge noisy trucks driving in and out – she is still very young for this traveling lark and gets frightened with loud noises.  Traveling along after lunch we noticed a large herd of cows walking up the race, making their way to the milking shed.

Follow the leader to the milking shed

Tonight we are staying at the Tokoroa Club, excellent value at $10 night for a powered site.  We are here on our own, so far.

Later in the evening we went to have a meal in the club restaurant - fish for her and steak for him.  We joined another couple in the dining room, who as it happens, own a camper.  So there was plenty to chat about, places visited, and trips we wish to make in the future, a very pleasant interlude indeed.