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W&J: We flew up in a small plane from a very windy Wellington over the volcanoes to Lake Taupo and arrived yesterday about midday. Picked up a bigger car which will be good as we are driving around again for the next few days.Lake Taupo is a vocanic crater the size of Singapore!
Staying in a very smart 5* B&B with views over the lake and to the 2 active volcanoes in the distance. Absolutely amazing. In the afternoon we visited the spectacular Huka Falls on the Waikato river which run dramatically for about 100 meters where the wide river is squashed into a gorge . Further down is a dam which is opened four times a day to fill a large pool and river in a matter of a few minutes. There are 10 hydro electric stations on the long river, supplying most of NZ's electricity. And we've passed thermal power stations too, harnessing the volcanoes' steam. NZ is on a geological fault line where two plates meet, hence all the activity.
We went to a glass blowing place and watched the chap's skill. Really beautiful pieces in the shop. Then we stopped at a honey/bee unit. Everything all ages could want to know or buy.
This morning we decided we shoud learn to fly fish since that's what a lot of people do around Taupo. We had our own guide, it was huge fun. Our guide was one of NZ's fly fishing team of 5!
Tomorrow we are driving up to the Coromandel peninsula via Rotorua. On the way we'll stop at a geyser and mud pools and also a Maori village. It's going to be a long day's travelling/sightseeing.
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