Weds 19.01.11 Rosie Bay to Te Taita A Makoro (Lake Waikaremoana Te Urewera National Park)Last night it blew storm force until the early hours. The sound in the trees across the lake inlet made a noise equal to any roaring of waves. The lake was roaring, but luckily our inlet was for the most part sheltered. The moon was bright between clouds and from time to time it hammered down with rain. Our brilliantly designed tent survived it all with no leaks and no breaka...

Sat 15.01.11 Whakapapa to Napier: Left the camp site this morning around 10am, sandwiches made for the journey.How lucky we were yesterday, today the mountains are covered in cloud right down to about 1300m and the wind is really strong.We are both a little stiff in the leg department today, nothing a drive and a gentle stroll won't cure! We chose to take the scenic route south round the Tongariro National Park, and down to Waiorou and then headed East at Taiha...

Yesterday evening we watched the sun set over Mount Dome (Lord of the Rings Mountain alias Mt Ngauruhoe) from the lounge of Hotel Skotel.Prior to that we passed some time in the lounge of Chateau Tongariro enjoying a little aperitif!!!Once it was dusk we headed along the road to our tent. Packed our rucksacks for the pending walk, made our sandwiches and tucked into our sleeping bags early. It was pretty chilly because we are at 1200m here.Up, breakfasted and awa...

Thurs 13.01.11 Taupo to Whakapapa Village Camp After another banquet breakfast we left for Lake Taupo and the Tongariro National Park where we will stay for 4 or 5 days in the National Park. Hopefully we will do a few walking routes including the Tongariro Crossing skirting crater lakes and round the summit of Mount Tongariro. Think we'll be out of touch for 4 or 5 days. Today we drove to Taupo for coffee overlooking the Lake, then on to the Hukka Falls (a bit l...

Great day today, left Shakespear National Park around 8.30am, great views of Auckland as we came through from the North. Headed south towards Hamilton on A1, lovely coffee at Rangiriri, a heritage centre with loads of pictures and info on the Maori warriers and chiefs involved in the Maori land wars against the English. Stopped again for a picnic luncheon at Karapiro, on the banks of the national rowing centre...a lovely park setting, completely empty except for ...