Homeward Bound

Time to start the drive home – leaving Taupo we traveled down SH1 and along the Desert Road.  Mt Ruapehu was looking glorious as we drove past.

Mt Ruapehu

We decided to stop at Waiouru for lunch.  The National Army Museum is a great place to stop with plenty of room in the large carpark for caravans and campers.  With a café and toilets available, as well as the marvelous museum, we often stop here for a break, and sometimes stay overnight.  We had a nice restful lunch in the café, after we were stopped and asked to open my bag as we entered the building.

After lunch I took a wander around the grounds.  The tanks out on the front grounds are a magnet for kids to clamber all over them.

Kids climbing on the tank

A Field of Remembrance was in place, honouring the soldiers who lost their lives in WW1 

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Field of Remembrance

Where to stop for the night, we wondered?  And decided on a new to us CAP in Taihape.  This property had a previous life as a Catholic School and now welcome self contained campers.  We camped in the playing field, surrounded by lots of lovely large trees, and enjoyed sitting outside in the late afternoon sunshine.  It was rather chilly overnight with the temperature dropping quite low.

 

Staying the night at Taihape

After a leisurely breakfast it didn’t take too long to hook up and make our way to the local dump station.  Then on the road again for the last part of the journey arriving home in time for a late lunch.  We had a great time away and towed the caravan 1515kms on our trip.