Back to Kiwiland

On the way home from Australia, I stopped in New Zealand again for a nine day layover.  The trip plan worked nicely...stopping in NZ broke up the journey, taking three hours off the transpacific flights in both directions.  I spent a total of three weeks in Oz, two weeks in NZ.  Both places are beautiful, friendly, and much more relaxed than the US at this time in history.  I really enjoyed the jaunt and plan to do it frequently as long as I can.  This is the Waikato River between Auckland and Hamilton.  It was a warm Saturday, and a rowing regatta was in progress.  Blow up the pic for a better view.

I stayed a couple days in New Plymouth, on the western tip of the North Island.  Hadn't been here before.  Mount Taranaki towers over the city, much like Hood and Rainier do over Portland and Seattle/Tacoma, respectively.  

A lighthouse near Taranaki.

I'm traveling eastward across the wild interior of the North Island.  Lots of sheep and few people in these parts.

The road was narrow and lightly traveled, even unpaved in one stretch.  This one lane tunnel was interesting.

I wound up the day at a bach...a cozy holiday house...at a resort on Lake Taupo.  This vast volcanic lake is right in the center of the North Island.  The scene reminded me a bit of Lake Tahoe...the lakes are about the same size, each surrounded by mountains.  Lake Taupo is a world famous trout fishing spot...the owner of the resort caught a couple of large fish and cooked one up for me...totally tender!  Fine Kiwi hospitality again. 

Sunset at Lake Taupo.

Huka Falls, just NE of the city of Taupo.  The lake is the source of the Waikato River, which pours in a torrent over the falls on its way to Hamilton, thence to the Tasman Sea.

Here's a video of Huka Falls...it really is quite impressive.