It was super to see them. I had better get back to a chronological account.
On Tuesday we went to a geothermal area called Wai-O-Tapu. It has a geyser which is stimulated into activity every morning at 10.15 by having a small quantity of soap flakes poured into it! After a couple of minutes it erupts (surface tension in the area below having been affected) into a water-spout about 10 ft. high.
A large crowd sits in the arena to watch it, rather like a Roman amphitheatre, all wielding cameras. Rather contrived, or, as the Rough Guide puts it, ignominious. But the rest of it was absolutely amazing. We walked on a well-defined path through a landscape full of craters lined with coloured mineral deposits, belching steam or glooping water and mud. Then on a walkway across a shallow lake of many colours, orange, blue, green, gently steaming. We walked for a couple of hours, jaws well dropped, never seen anything like it.
Wished Chris Lee could see it,(family friend) his excitement would have known no bounds. Nearby is a large mud pool, one of the funniest things I have ever seen, all over it gas comes up with a really rude glooping sound, and spurts of mud shoot into the air! It's a challenge to photograph the mud in mid-air.
The next amazing thing was the Huka Falls, where a brilliant blue/green river is forced through a narrow rocky canyon and roars out into the river below. It is part of a hydro-electric system, but the rocky channel is quite natural.
In Taupo, which is by a large lake of the same name, we had to go to a second choice hostel, but it was fine apart from no email. We had a room with kingsize bed and a single bed, loo and shower, use of kitchen, and a light breakfast, for $70. Oh, and electric blankets! We had a meal out for a treat, at a Thai restaurant, where Paul had TWO lamb shanks and I had duck and ginger. We watched the sun set in the wrong direction over the lake.
Weds. 19 Nov.
We decided to stay in Taupo and see the volcanic area south of there. There are three volcanoes, all snow-capped, and we drove round the whole area and then round Lake Taupo. On the outward journey, we noticed that we had 2 police cars behind us, so observed the (rather slow) speed limits very carefully.
On entering a built-up area, Paul went rather slower than necessary, and after that one of them peeled off. The other one stopped us. Oh dear. But he said 'You're going too slowly!' Then lectured us about not holding people up and causing them to take risks. The best bit was that he was from Wakefield! (The result of this will probably be that we get a speeding ticket). (what, speeding ticket for going too slowly???)
The scenery on the west of Lake Taupo was limestone, like the Mendips on steroids.
In the evening we sat by the lake and watched a few local boys swinging from a rope and out over the water and then sploshing in. Water crystal clear. We chatted to a couple from the South Island who emigrated to NZ 30 years ago, and they invited us to coffee when we are in Christchurch!
Thursday 20 Nov.
Difficult to sleep, thinking about the journey to Masterton, not knowing how long it would take. The drive to Napier on the coast was through another set of astonishing mountains- by the time I get to the South Island I shall have completely run out of adjectives. Napier has a lot of Art Deco houses.
South of there we (I) decided to stop for coffee, and we turned off to a tiny village where the Old Library had been turned into a gift/coffee shop. A lot of confusion when the lady in charge thought we were with another person and charged them for our coffee!! Sadly the mistake was noticed. (you skinflints, you... lol)
And so to Masterton, to the motel. In the evening we went for a run into the country with Wendy and Brian, up an unsealed road into a gorge with river at the bottom. We saw some large pigeons called Kereru, world's second largest, only found in , and got some photos. Then fish and chips and back to base.
This is a Kereru
This morning we all went to Castle Point on the east coast, where there is a lighthouse and a couple of beautiful bays, usual vivid blue/green sea, watched terns diving for fish. We had lunch at a pub in its sunny garden and then drove back here to Wellington.
The house is really super, perched on a hillside with big views over the bay - you may have seen Brian's photos. (yes their house is lovely - I have seen photos) Now we really need to chill out, we have done so much!
More soon, lots of love, mumbo.
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