Adventures in Taupo

Our safari numbers have now dropped to four caravans and one motorhome as people left us to continue on with their plans.  Leaving Piriaka we traveled along SH41 and came across a sign for the Waituhi Lookout.  Up, up the narrow, winding, overgrown road we drove, towing our big van behind us, hoping we wouldn't meet another vehicle coming down, almost driving blind as we couldn’t see round each corner.  Arriving at last at the top, a tiny area open to just a small number of freedom campers, with a tower to climb to see the view.  The view was beautiful, native forest as far as the eye could see, with mountains in the distance.  But we wouldn't recommend driving up to the Lookout with a big rig, it was a rather hair raising experience.

View from the Waituhi Lookout

We were staying at Taupo Airport NZMCA site for the next two nights, always a favourite of ours.  It was lovely to find out that friends Andrew and Debbie were also staying here – they are now the proud owners of two cute little Rag Doll kittens.  So we had plenty to talk about, but sadly, omitted to take any baby photos.  However, there was another blue point Rag Doll cat camping a few vans away, this one was two years old, the same age as our Gemma but so much bigger, and goes on holiday with a fifteen year old Border Collie.

Nearby neighbours

We had quite an adventure today when we went to find the Kaimanawa Wall, quite a drive up the Napier-Taupo Road, turning into a pine plantation, and then driving through native forest onto Clements Mill Road.  No cell phone coverage up there, (let’s hope nothing goes wrong) but the native forest was stunning.  The GPS told us when we finally arrived, but where was this mystery wall ?  Perhaps by that green sign we drove past?

Clements Mill Road

We found a clearing to turn the cars around, and settled down in the sunshine for morning tea.  The manuka trees were in full bloom, and the area was buzzing with bees.  I’m sure some enterprising beekeepers have hives placed in this area to take advantage of the manuka.  Robin placed his camera on the table, set the timer, and rushed back to his seat in the nick of time before the shutter went off.

Helen, Owen, Jenny, Robin, Dot, Pamela, and Don

Then it was back into the cars again to see the fabled Kaimanawa Wall.  According to the Dept. of Conservation sign, “the rock formation has been scientifically established to be part of a large Ignimbrite  outcrop formed about 330,000 years ago”.  Some sceptics believe that the stone wall is man made, constructed by people about 2000 years ago, who pre-date the Maori population.  The stones consist of ignimbrite, a type of rock that results when pyroclastic pumice solidifies after a volcanic blast. The structure seems to bear the hallmarks of a deliberate construction with neat rows of stacked blocks. Precision joints and surfaces appear carved or sculpted. The most heated area of contention about the wall is its age. If someone built the formation around 2000 years ago, then a mysterious group of people must have settled New Zealand before the first Maori – however, we believe the scientific explanation.  This was certainly very interesting to see, and it certainly did look like cut blocks of stone stacked together.  I’m pleased we made the effort to travel out to see it.

Kaimanawa Wall

On the drive back there was another attraction we had read about and wanted to see.   At the Opepe Bush Historic Reserve there is a tiny cemetery which tells the story of a surprise attack in 1869 by Te Kooti  on 14 members of the Bay of Plenty Cavalry camping in this area.  The attack left nine British soldiers dead, and their bodies are buried in the cemetery.  There are four graves in this tiny cemetery, and another tucked away nearby.  This was a piece of New Zealand history which we were unaware of.

Opepe Bush Historic Reserve

Back at camp for a late lunch and a bit of R&R watching the never ending stream of people jumping out of airplanes and floating down to earth overhead.

 

Tandem Sky Dives

Gemma couldn’t care less about all this drama, and tucked herself away under our outdoors step.  Much better, now those people falling out of the sky wont be falling on her!

Gemma knows she is safe and sound

A Working Holiday

For this trip we are away for 10 days or so, leaving on Friday in the pouring rain.  By the time we pulled into Taihape for our lunch stop the weather had cleared.  I set out our lunch while Robin went to the handy coffee cart next to us. “Keep an eye on that rubbish tin”  he instructed, while we ate our lunch in the van.  Seems that a very cheeky blackbird had discovered that people deposit left over food in the bin and he flutters down inside to have a forage around.  We saw him exit with a chip in his beak, but never when the camera was ready.  What a clever blackbird!

There’s a blackbird in this bin

We like to have  the radio on while we are traveling, tuned to Magic which plays “all the songs you know and love”.  And look, they're playing my extra special favourite song, Ten Guitars.  I love it so much I’ve told the family I want it played at my funeral!  This song was such a hit out here when it was first released it became known as The New Zealand National Anthem.

I know all the words to my favourite song

Driving along the Desert Road we got good views of Mt Ruapehu, with it’s top covered in snow.  Those clouds looked threatening, and as we traveled further along, the mountain top became obscured with cloud cover.

Mt Ruapehu

We followed behind this sign on the litter collection van for a while until it was safe to pass him.  Never seen one of these before, but it’s good that our hi-ways and bi-ways are being kept clean.  Mind you, if people didn’t litter, we wouldn't need staff picking up after them.

New (to us) sign

Before too long we arrived at our site for the night, NZMCA Taupo Airport.  Those dark clouds brought heavy rain during the night, beating on the roof and leaving big puddles everywhere.  The weather wasn’t right for sky diving, but we watched a couple of planes arriving and departing, and there is always action from the helicopters next door to the camp.

At Taupo Airport

Next morning we drove from Taupo to Rotorua, about 100kms, and quite a pretty trip traveling through rolling farmland and forests.  Everything looked so green and fresh.

On the way to Rotorua

Can you see the Skyline Gondolas snaking up and down the hill?  It’s been some time since we’ve had a trip on them, might have to plan another ride sometime soon.

Skyline Gondolas at Rotorua

Almost there – drove through the cute little village of Ngongotaha and we arrived at the Ngongotaha NZMCA park, where we are staying for the next two nights.

Staying at Ngongotaha

That’s where the working part of this holiday came in.  The caravan got a “deep clean” as some people say, instead of just a spit and polish.  Everything got a wipe down, the insides of drawers were washed, as were the base of various cupboards.  With all this activity happening, Gemma wondered what on earth was going on.

What are you doing, Mum?

And the reason for all this extra activity?  If you don’t already know, pop by tomorrow and all will be revealed.

There and Back Again

It was a long day – a trip to Taupo and back again in the same day.  At long last, Robin had found a new to us vehicle which ticked all the boxes and we were changing cars.   Our new purchase was being delivered down from Tauranga, and we were driving up to Taupo – to meet at midday at Lake Taupo.  This was to be the final trip in our trusty 1995 Toyota Landcruiser 4WD, and we pulled in to the Truck Stop at Sanson to top up with diesel.

Truck Stop at Sanson

As we drove further north the skies darkened, with the sun trying hard to break through the clouds.  It did seem rather strange, appearing to look like dusk rather than mid morning.

By the time we stopped at the coffee cart at Taihape the clouds had disappeared and the skies were clear and blue again.

 

Coffee time

There was a young family parked beside us in the car park, and the children were so excited to going on a mystery car trip.  They were in Taihape to have a gumboot throwing competition, they said.  It certainly is the right place to be – Taihape is known as “The Gumboot Capital of the World” and boasts a large corrugated iron gumboot on the edge of town.

The famous gumboot at Taihape

Driving through the Desert Road we had wonderful views of the mountains.  We pulled into some off road parking and joined car loads of tourist snapping  away.  The glistening white snow looked wonderful against the clear blue sky. 

Mt Ruapehu

And a little further along we had a great view of Mt Ngauruhoe’s conical shape.

Mt Ngauruhoe

We were to meet at the Hole in One Golf Challenge on the lakeside.  Anyone who makes the winning shot wins $10,000, so no wonder there was a steady stream of golfers trying for the prize.  We could see a huge number of golf balls in the lake which never made it to the destination, a diver in a wet suit bobbing about under the water as he gathered them up.

And there was our new acquisition, a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee.  We parked beside it and Robin got a run down of all the new features before it was handed over.  With a final check to make sure we had gathered up all our belongings, and remembering to remove the sheepskin covers on the front seats, we were good to go.

The new and the old

While all this was happening I took a walk along the lake edge and was delighted to see a small float plane come buzzing over and land on the lake.

Tiny float plane landing on Lake Taupo

After a quick lunch we had to go and purchase some more road user charges.  Although we had 3,000 on the car we traded in, the replacement  came with only 600 or so, which wouldn’t take us very far at all.  Driving back over the Desert Road Mt Ruapehu looked so nice with the sun on it’s snow covered peaks that we just had to stop for another photo shoot.

Mt Ruapehu again

We like to listen to “Magic” radio station which plays all the songs from the 50s, 60s, and 70s, enjoying every song as we know all the words.  But the dial on  our new car says it is “Oldies Music”, we are not that old, surely?

Driving back home through the town of Bulls, we noticed that there were several more statues of black bulls dotted around.  There was a great big one on wheels by the medical centre, and a realistic one peeping out between two buildings.

Black bulls on the loose in Bulls

The skies were darkening and the rain was setting in on our final part of the journey.  Robin was intrigued with the rain sensing window wipers which come on by themselves – there are a lot of new (to him) features which he will have to familiarize himself with, so there be a lot of reading of the owners handbook.  We were pleased to get back home, a long day driving about 550kms

The new tow car

Putaruru, Taupo and on to Marton

Our overnight stay at John’s POP in Putaruru was delightful.  On arrival we were warmly welcomed by our host and guided into place by the large American style barn.  Then we were invited to join John on his patio for Happy Hour.  New Zealand is a small country, and as we chatted, we discovered we shared several caravanning friends in common.

Overnighting at Putaruru

We awoke to the most glorious sun rise, blazing with beautiful morning hues.  So out I padded into the fresh morning air, camera in hand, to capture this sight before the colours faded away.

Sun rise over Putaruru

And looking the other way over the mist shrouded valley

Then it was on the road again, heading to Taupo Airport NZMCA site again, always a handy stop and very popular.  As always, there were plenty of road works to gingerly drive past, there is always something happening on our roads.

Somewhere on SH1

Our stop in Taupo gave us the chance to replenish our supplies, necessities such as fresh veggies, bread and milk.  And who added those Easter Buns to the trolley, I wonder?  Our thirsty 4WD needed a top up, and on the way back to camp we stopped off at a new sign that I had noticed, which certainly deserved a photo taken.  Once again, I had to wait for the tourists to finish their own snaps.  Seems that some tourists may well have been stepping into the road side to get all of the rather long sign into their shot.

Lake side at Taupo

Thursday morning dawned wet and drizzly, and our trip today was a little longer at 210km.  Travelling along the Desert Road we were up in the clouds and mist, with the mountains well and truly hidden from sight. 

Misty weather

The Desert Road had been closed for the previous couple of days to enable a bridge to be replaced.  That job was finished, and  this very busy road was open once again, but still the road works continue.  We pulled into thee car park behind National Army Museum at Waiouru – the large roomy car-park makes it so easy to park the caravan.  Fortified with lunch on the go from the cafe, we continued on our way to Marton.

And the road works continue

The Marton NZMCA Park is one of the smaller ones around, and very popular with members.  We always enjoy staying here, and can remember it’s former life years ago when it was a Council Motor Camp.  The plan is to stay just one night here, and then move on to Feilding for Easter.

Staying the night at Marton

Napier-Taupo Road

After three nights staying in the apple orchard, it was time to pack up and move on.  There was a fuel stop at Napier, then we drove around the estuary and past the airport.

Estuary at Napier

Turning on to The Napier-Taupo Road, (SH5) the start of our trip took us through the very pretty Esk Valley.  This is a very fertile area and heavily planted in grape vines and fruit trees.

Esk Valley

The Napier-Taupo Road goes over one hill after another, is full of twists and turns, passing through many forestry blocks.  Some of these blocks have been clear felled, leaving the landscape looking bare and forlorn.  But there has been plenty of new planting to replenish this sustainable crop.

Pinus radiata trees

Some of the hills very very steep, and our 4WD slowly chugged up the steepest, valiantly towing our heavy van behind.  Luckily there were plenty of passing lanes to allow the traffic behind us to get safely on it’s way.  Up and over yet another hill we looked down on a beautiful view across some farm land.

It was interesting to find several signs along this piece of road for drivers of electric cars to stop and recharge.  Who would have thought!  As the electric cars have a limited range, these charging points must be a necessity.

Electric cars pull in here

Our trip today was 170km and took us over quite high mountain ranges -  I was certainly glad to finally arrive in Taupo.  Being warm and sunny we had no weather issues with this trip, but in winter the road is sometimes covered with snow and ice.   We caught a glimpse of Lake Taupo as we drove through the gates of the Taupo Airport NZMCA Park.   Arriving in time for a rather late lunch, we settled down to some R&R as we watched all the other caravans, campers and buses roll in during the afternoon.  This is a really popular site, and very well utilised.  We are staying for one night only, leaving in the morning for Hamilton.

Plenty more arrivals filled the gaps by evening