Taupo and Environs

A packed day, but first...  We had a lovely meal last night sitting on the veranda of the restaurant and watching the sun set over the mountains. Our waiter was from Nepal and very good.

But back to today...

This morning we did domestic chores - two loads of washing, a little ironing and cleaned the toilet/bathroom /shower

We then headed off to Rapids Jet where we boarded a jet boat for a power ride up and down the river through rapids, missing rocks by inches, and doing 360 degree turns. Very thrilling! No photos I'm afraid but we did buy a USB stick with photos of our adventure. Have to upload them when we get home.

From there we went to Lava Glass - a glass blowing studio.

It was very nice but we only bought lunch.

Next was a visit to some thermal pools with an active geyser. We did not go in the pool but walked round the silica terraces, the geyser and a Maori 'village'.

From there we went to Huka Falls, the biggest in New Zealand in terms of volume of water per minute. Jet boats were coming up the river and turning in the maelstrom at the base of the falls.

We then tried to find some Maori stone carvings but were thwarted. Only when I read the very small, faint print on the map did I see that they were only accessible by boat on the lake.

Still, it was a nice drive.

Tomorrow, Rotorua.

Silica terraces

An old geyser 

Huka Falls 

Maori carving (but not in stone) 

Entrance to Maori 'village'