January 27th:
Lake Taupo the volcanic crater
We drove 71km from Rotorua to Lake Taupo. Close to Taupo we spotted a sign for a glass artist. Here we watched Chris, Lynden Over's associate blow a bowl, interesting to watch.

At Taupo lake was vast, 606 sq Km and is New Zealand's largest lake. Taupo itself was much busier than I expected.

As we drove around trying to find a camp we pass a new home development. For kicks we went in and looked around. We discovered that Taupo can reach -10°. The estate agent said that the most temperate areas in New Zealand were Tauranga and Nelson.

We booked in at the massive Lake Taupo Top 10 Park - very corporate and not particularly friendly. The frontline greeting was very aloof, but the park was well equipped.

After a couple of hours chill out we drove down in to Taupo town. The sky was very dark and moody, I took loads of pics. We then stumbled across Finns an Irish pub.....

January 28th: Napier and art deco
We decided to move onto to Napier out on the east coast. But before we do, we whizzed a bit north of Taupo to Hukka Falls on the Waikaro River, New Zealand's longest river. We wandered around for an hour or so.

Near to Huka Falls is a Manuka Honey Farm we stopped and had a coffee and Manuka honey and fig ice cream which was shockingly good. This added to the pear and chocolate ice cream was a formidable combo.

The craters of the Moon is close by, a thermal area in Wairakei Tourist Park sprang up in the 1950's, when the nearby power station lowered underground water levels. It was a bit disappointing but we walked round for an hour.

SH5 goes from Taupo to Napier. Forests and gorges were impressive and frequent. From various peaks we saw Hawkes Bay where Napier nestles. Eventually the forests and deep cut gorges change to flat lands and straight roads.

Napier was destroyed in 1931 by an earthquake. The town was swiftly rebuilt and is now a fine example of art deco architecture and style.

We booked a pitch on route to stay at Bay View Snapper Holiday Park - right alongside the ocean edge. It is such a lovely holiday park, pretty, cozy and friendly. I could hear the ocean from our camper van. There are some pitches right up by the black pebbled beach. It was late, hunger called and we went in search of Hoki fish and kumara chips which was found at Nemo's in the south of Napier. We sat and ate our fish and chips by the sea in Napier.