Napier to Lake Taupo

Sunday 23rd February

We left Napier to it's last day of the festival, we've probably had enough of cars and planes for a while, and also all those people, we've got used to a bit of peace and quiet.

Today we headed further north to Lake Taupo.   It was a straight journey ,up and the only stop was a short stroll to the Waipunga Falls.

We checked into our camp and had a look at what to do in the afternoon.  Taupo is famed for the Huka Falls and we had the choice of driving or a walk.  Janette thought a walk was a good idea! Shoot me if I make that suggestion again, as it was like climbing Mount Doom.  Not quite that bad, but it was a 3 hour round journey, up and down, and up and down.  But sort of worth the walk I suppose.  To make matters worse as walked down a guy came running past us, and on the way back he was still running, but back to town.  Show Off!   Anyway with sore feet and legs we hobbled back to the camp.

Huka Falls

Hot thermal pool by riverside

On the camp site there was a couple from Wiltshire, he was pretty quiet, mumbling in the background, and we soon found out why. Within minutes we knew she was the captain of the golf club and tennis club and, was probably the retired headmistress, as she was bossing everyone around and telling us how to cook brocolli.  She didn't like Lake Taupo, all very rustic and full of take aways, but Napier was lovely Darling! Towns in NZ are not all like a National Trust Village. She then asked where we were from, Oh yes Fleet, I know Fleet, one of our daughters used to live in Camberley.  Yes Fleet is like Basingstoke used to look like 30 years ago!  at that point Rod grabbed the back of my collar and dragged me away, before I head butted her.  Stuck up old boot, why do people like that travel, they should stay in their little upper crust village and annoy their neighbours.  I could then understand why her husband was so quiet, and at this point he walked away.  Old bat.

By the way when we went into Taupo, it was a lovely place on the lake.