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Taupo
We arrived at Taupo by way of a 150 km scenic drive from Napier. The town was less commercialised than some we had seen and overlooked the north-east part of the 193 km perimeter lake. The area has many tourist attractions including Huka Falls, Taupo Hot Springs, Orakei Korako, Mouri Rock Carvings, Craters of the Moon, Skydiving, Fishing and water sports.
Tongariro National Park
 The world heritage park extends for nearly 800 sq km, with the park centre at Whakapapa Village on SH48 near the base of Mount Ruapehu. In the same locality Mount Tongariro and Mount Ngauruhoe (Mount Doom in the film 'Lord of the Rings') can been seen.
During our visit to the village and park centre, we enjoyed one of the many quiet walks in the area with a 6km two-hour hilly walk taking us through some dense forest, alongside a stream and eventually up to the Taranaki Falls. Very scenic bleak countryside, reminiscent of Scottish moorland, with crystal clear streams and rivers, mauve heather just past its prime and varying colours in the low bush and scrub.
Within the village is the 1928 vintage Chateau Tongariro, well worth a visit if only for the afternoon cream teas at NZ$10 each. The hotel is well situated for park visitors as there is nothing else for miles and must be a real haven during the winter months.
Orakei Korako
A lesser known geothermal area some 25km north of Taupo. Set in beautiful countryside with steep sided hills either side of the river, this privately run attraction was well worth visiting, as much for it's superb quiet location. Although no active geysers that day, the silica flow, mud pools, abundance of colour, hot water pools and streams looked good in the strong sunlight. The walk around the park lasted about two hours and covered about 1.5km
Rotorua
The journey from Taupo along SH1/SH5 to Rotorua was scenic but not dramatic, mainly agricultural and forest. Rotorua itself was much larger than envisaged, very commercialised with a lot of small shops, attractions and a noticeable pungent sulphur smell.
Apart from the many geothermal attractions in the area, close to the town is the excellent Redwood park with a wonderful display of tall redwood trees, a number of them over 100 years old. It was a pleasure to walk through this peaceful park with autumnal colours vibrant from the morning sunshine rays penetrating the lofty leafy canopy.
The town has a number of fine looking and historical buildings, with other attractions such as Rainbow Springs, a small park containing fish, birds, various types of trees (some native to NZ) and Kiwis.
Our two night stay in the area was made all the more enjoyable by our fine hosts, Katherine and Steve. It also coincided with Lynn's birthday and to mark the event Katherine prepared an excellent candlelit dinner. From our table we could see the moonlight glistening on the lake and clear starry night, a fitting climax for Lynn to remember her birthday.
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