Taupo, New Zealand

Yesterday afternoon Judy and I agreed on three objectives for today, Halloween:

1. Pay no entrance fees for any activity whatsoever. No tours, no pay-per-view geysers, no commercial caves.

2. A low key, somewhat relaxing day. We’ve been on the go for seven straight days (or 28-day trip is now one-fourth complete). It’s hard to believe. On the one hand it’s hard to believe we’re 1/4 done. On the other, arriving in Auckland seems like several weeks ago, not five days. But it’s time for us old foggies to act our age. And besides, we’ve got a six-hour drive to Wellington tomorrow and would like to spend three hours or so in Tongairo National Park on the way. Tongairo is home to three volcanic mountain peaks. One was snow covered this morning so we probably can’t summit, having left our pitons and ice boots at home.

3. Do the laundry. Did I ever mention that Judy is a sainte? She is.

4. Get to bed before 11 PM, which is why I’m typing this at 5 PM. When laundry’s done we’ll head into town and get some grub. We saw a place last night that advertises Authentic New Zealand cuisine, including venison. We’ll need to check that out.

So we slept in until 7:30, had muffins and juice in our room which, incidentally, looks out on Lake Taupo with views of the aforementioned volcano peaks to the south. We also talked with Jeff and had a great conversation with Reagan. This trip brings back fond memories for all three of us when we went to Normandy and Paris last year. Wish we had a grandkid or two along on this trip – they’d all enjoy it.

As to Objective 1, we technically achieved the no-fee goal. Here’s what we did:

1. Drove to the Aratiatia Dam, a hydro project where they open the dam three times a day (four times a day during summer months). There’s a big flood of water that lasts for 15 minutes, filling an otherwise empty river into Class 5 rapids. Why they open it when they do is a mystery to me. Why three times a day (four in the summer)? Is it to provide peak power during daylight hours, especially Summer afternoons when everyone has their airconditioners running? Or is it to satisfy tourists’ need for something to take selfies in front of? Or do they just need to empty the lake behind the dam every so often? Whatever the reason, it made for some pretty pictures.

Cost: $0

2. Hiked five miles from the Dam to Huka falls. It took us over 3 hours; they advertise it as a two-hour trip but I took 275 pictures and Judy shot enough video to make a full-length Hobbit movie.

Cost: $0

3. The hike ended at Huka Falls. If you think Aratiatia was something you ought to see Huka Falls. Rushing water before at and after the falls proper. See the pictures. Pretty spectacular.

Cost: $0

4. Taxi ride back to the car at the dam. We’d thought of hiking into town (another five miles) and getting a taxi back to our car but decided it was 2 PM, we were hungry and hey, we’re supposed to be relaxing today.

Entrance Fee: $0
The taxi did charge a $35 exit fee, but our goal was $0 ENTRANCE fee, right?

5. We drove to the Prawn Park, a commercial enterprise where you can catch, cook and eat your very own prawns. They have numerous big tanks full of prawn (sorta like a fresh water shrimp) where you fish. You can even drive golf balls to kill the prawns; I didn’t investigate how exactly that works, but they had full bags of rightie and leftie clubs. Unfortunately, because of our $0 entrance fee pledge, we could only eat in the restaurant.

Cost: $0
Excluding the lunch tab for deep fried prawns and prawns in a curry sauce.

6. Wallowing in warm sand in front of our hotel. Our room is about 10 meters from Lake Taupo. The sandy beach is called a warm beach because thermal water flows through it. It’s scalding hot if you dig too deep. Judy dug down, made a nice little nest and luxuriated in mud-covered splendor. After we both went in the hot pool to help our aching joints and muscles.

Cost: $0
Unfortunately, while the fee for the first wallower is $0, the fee for a second is more than I am willing to pay. I took pictures.

7. Laundry, nap and journaling. When the last load is done we’ll head into town for dinner.

Then, up at the crack of dawn and off to Wellington. By the way, the left-side driving thing is going well. As with jet lag, I was just about over it by Day 3. The only residual problems are that I still open the left door before I realize that the steering wheel is on the ledt and I still can’t remember that the turn signal is on the right. I wipe the windows instead of activating the turn signal but Judy says, “It happens less often.”

Note on tonight’s dinner: The Vine in downtown Taupo. Just a light supper, tapas style:

– Venison meatballs

– Braised portk belly

– Rack of lamb, shared

– Scallop and chorizo risoto

– Stickey date pudding with hokey pokey ice cream

It was the best meal in New Zealand so far and one of the best we’ve had anywhere in quite some time. I’m calling Air New Zealand in the morning and reserving two more seats for the flight home. We’ll overflow into a second seat if we keep eating like this.