Well we got hot and steamy in Taupo! And all thanks to the geo-thermal properties of the area. We spent Wednesday afternoon on the 'Thermal Explorer Highway' visiting various attractions. The Volcanic activity museum was fascinating. We spent a happy hour watching a video of Ruapehu erupting in 1995 and 1996 and looking at the geology of the area; including a live siesmo-graph! Paul liked the vibrating room (earthquake simulator!). It really showed you the scale of the powers that lie underground. We also dropped in on the Craters of the Moon. You take a stroll through the reserve where steam hisses from every crack in the ground and mud bubbles away merrily in the craters. We also visited the Huka Falls; a boiling cauldron of water forced out through the Lake Taupo control gates; like the Aratiatia falls further up the river the gates control the flow to generate Hydro-electricity. With the latter falls you can view the opening of the gates several times a day. It is quite spectacular to see the water levels rise and the clear blue stream change to a seething milk-coloured torrent. Lake Taupo itself is quite a sight. More like an inland sea than a lake (it's the hole in the centre of the North island!) it is also the result of a volcanic eruption some 2,000 years ago. Apparently the fall-out made it to China. Now that must have been a big bang! We woke yesterday to the sight of snow on the Tongariro peaks - a fab view from the Youth Hostel kitchen (photo). A sunny clear morning (yes!) so we took a walk to the summit of the dormant volcano, Mt. Tuahara, which overlooks Taupo. Fab views, not only of the mountain scenery but the lake and the steam rising from all the fissures in the area. How do you follow that? An hour in a mineral bath at Taupo Hot Springs. 40Deg naturally heated water. In the evening, dodging the showers, we took the opportunity to see what all the fuss was about the film 'Slumdog Millionaire'. Fantastic - deserves all the awards and plaudits it's won. See it if you can! A marathon drive today, north to Paihia in the bay of islands. Sun on the sea, nice Youth Hostel, Friday and a bottle of wine!
2 comments:
Hi guys hope you are both well, sounds like your having a great trip, im enjoying reading your blog very much. Thought I would let you know that I saw Mt Ruapeau explode on 23th Sept 95. I was with friends and had been messing around 4 wheel driving in the area for a few days. There were alerts out on it but I guess we didnt think much of it, I only took 2 photos as I was watching the erruption through the camera and not taking photos ha ha. Keep on trekking. x
Sounds a lot of fun
wish you were here and we were there
Steve
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