Long-weekend at Taupo with the Bostocks

For the long weekend we headed up to Lake Taupo with Andy, Clare and Andrea. The weather wasn't looking very promising and poured with rain for the first half of the drive up north. The clouds were also pretty low so no view of the volcanoes on the way up.

Saturday we went for a walk around the Craters of the Moon and visited Huka Falls in the morning and did a bit of shopping in Taupo before heading to the thermal mineral pools in the afternoon for a relaxing soak.


Craters of the Moon


Andrea and Clare enjoying the thermal mineral baths.

On Sunday we went to the geothermal area of Orakei Korakei which had some impressive mud pools and a few geysers. We had a rather smelly lunch by the lake in Rotorua.


Bubbling mud pools

Rainbow colours at Orakei Korakei

On Monday the weather finally cleared up - so we got some spectacular views of the volcanoes in Tongariro National Park. We walked to Taranaki Falls and had lunch. Then a quick look around the visitor centre before a long drive home..... made slightly less pleasant by the long weekend traffic queues to get back into Wellington. Andrea was not impressed!

Front to back - Aaron, Andrea, Andrew, Clare - Ngaruhoe volcano on the left.

Taranaki Falls, Tongariro National Park

Andy, Clare and Andrea's visit

Andy, Clare and Andrea are visiting us at the moment. Andrea is 7 months old - so it was a good time for them to travel and see us and a little bit of New Zealand. We have spent the first few days around Wellington visiting the botanic gardens, the wildlife sanctuary and Te Papa. Then on Sunday we went over to the Wairarapa and went for a walk up to "Rocky Lookout" and then over to Martinborough for a couple of wine tastings.


Andrea, Clare and Andy at Rocky Lookout


Andrea, nice and warm inside Daddy's jacket.

They are off to New Plymouth to visit some friends for the next few days.