34. Taupo to Wellington - Magic Birthday - 2

Wednesday 10 January

Magic Birthday Photo

I had asked our driver Paris earlier in the day if I could have a group photo taken for my birthday and he said yes that'd be alright, he'd get everybody lined up when we stopped for a break.

We stopped at the Wild Bean Cafe in Palmerston North and I reminded him, but he forgot. When I mentioned it again, he was very good about it, and said to everybody, "Okay, everybody off the bus, we're all going to pose for a birthday photo."

There was grumbling and mutterings (it was very cold and pretty wet) and they didn't want to. But he wouldn't take no for an answer, and made everyone get off - which I thought was very good of him. Below is a close-up - that's me in the red cap, our driver is on my left in the blue board shorts.


My Magic Birthday

Here we all are - my travelling companions on this day.
Thanks Paris for doing this - you're a real brick. It's one birthday I'll never forget.:-)

33. Taupo to Wellington - Magic Birthday 1

Wednesday 10 January

Today is my birthday and we left Taupo at 8.00am. It was wet, foggy and one of the most boring road trips ever. Had I known that this part of the trip there are no "activities" - it was just a c ase of getting from A to B (Taupo to Wellington), I'd have arranged my trip differently. Ah well, we live and learn! No photos were possible of Mount Ruapehu ot Tongariro NP - you couldn't see through the fog. Although the sky was a bit clearer further south.

Art Gallery

This bright blue building is at 43 Mataroa Rd. Taihape. Taihape is a small market town on the southern edge of the Central Volcanic Plateau, and occupies a basin on the banks of the Hautapu River. It was originally known as Koronokonui. Today, it promotes itself as the "Gumboot capital of New Zealand" - the locals compete aggressively in the celebrated annual "Gumboot Throwing Contest" in which participants endeavour to toss a gumboot the greatest distance across a paddock.

Along the way

Scenery from the bus window somewhere along the highway.

Morning Tea stop

We stopped here for a tea break. I can't remember the name of the place, but if I do I'll post it up.

Morning Tea stop

Sheep

I just had to get a photo of sheep - where would New Zealand be without all its sheep? Did you know New Zealand has 13 times as many sheep as people? - that's approx. 47.2 million sheep.
No wonder there are so many sheep jokes. (All New Zealand jokes are about sheep!)

32. Taupo - Taniwha

Tuesday 9 January

Taniwha

Taniwha are supernatural creatures and in the Māori world view they were seen as part of the natural environment. Taniwha have been described as fabulous monsters that live in deep water. Others refer to them as dragons. Taniwha were either male or female. They usually lived in or near the water – lakes, rivers or the sea. They hid in lairs known as rua taniwha, which could be deep pools, caves, or dangerous waterways – areas that people avoided.

In some traditions, taniwha were terrifying creatures that captured people and ate them. Occasionally, it was said that they would kidnap women to live with them as wives. These monsters would inevitably be killed and the women returned to their families.

Taniwha Tablet

This stone tablet was near the taniwha in the first photo.

Taniwha and Chiefs
Taniwha were also a symbol for great chiefs. There is a proverb from Waikato:

Waikato taniwha rau, he piko he taniwha.

Waikato of a hundred taniwha, every bend a taniwha
For some this refers to the many taniwha of the Waikato River, while for others it is about the many important chiefs of the area.

Waikato River

The Waikato River, the longest in New Zealand, rises on the slopes of Mount Ruapehu in Tongariro NP as the Tongariro River, it then flows north through Lake Taupo and, issuing from the lake's north eastern corner, tumbles over Huka Falls and flows northwest to enter the Tasman Sea south of Auckland. The river is 425 km in length, and has a gentle gradient and carries a heavy load of ash from the volcanic highlands. The Waikato has formed numerous lakes and lagoons along its lower reaches.

Origin of the name
The name Waikato originated during the voyage of the Tainui canoe, which had journeyed from Polynesia. Arriving just off the mouth of the river, the crew remarked upon the kato (the pull of the river current in the sea) and thereafter the name Waikato (wai meaning water) was given to the river.

31. Taupo - Huka Falls

Tuesday 9 January

After we left Wai-O-Tapu, we stopped at a place called Rock'n'Ropes - a couple of adventurous souls had a go. The weather had turned nasty and I remember siting on some sort of verandah until it wastime to get back on the bus.


The next stop was Huka Falls. The name Huka is the Māori word for 'foam', which is appropriate as the falling water and rapids certainly resembles foam, especially under flooding conditions.

Huka Falls

It was an incredible sight - and sound, as more than 220,000 litres of water per second comes gushing down.

Huka Falls

At the Huka Falls, the Waikato River which is normally 100m wide, is squeezed through a 20 metre wide gorge and over a 20m drop.
Every second up to 220,000 litres of water gushes through the gorge and shoots out over 8 metres beyond to create a beautful blue/green pool.



Huka Falls Bridge

Huka Falls is located in Wairakei Park. This is only a short 5 minute drive north of Lake Taupo. This pedestrian bridge gives a marvelous view of the falls and is a very good place for photography.