Taupo, Turangi & Tongariro, New Zealand

After leaving the Wai-O-Tapu thermal reserve, we head south towards Lake Taupo. Before we reach Taupo, Mark takes us on a detour to check out the Kinlock Golf Club. He is interested in seeing their highly ranked (#1 in New Zealand) 18-hole Jack Nicklaus designed course.

Back on the road again (sing it Willy)

Mark is taking driving on the left seriously

We find ourselves at the "19th hole" where we have drinks and a snack before heading out to the driving range. Some Kiwi golfers we meet at the bar give Mark a bucket of balls to hit as a good luck gift after hearing he hasn't played golf for almost two years due to hip surgeries.  Much to everyone's delight, Mark shows us all that he still has the right stuff as he expertly hits one ball after another and then takes a bow to his new group of Kiwi golf fans as we all cheer him on.
From there, it's a short drive to the town of Taupo on the northern shore of the lake. It's a beautiful place, but we have a ferry to catch in Wellington, so we push on a little farther before stopping for the night.

Taupo, New Zealand

Lake Taupo with snow capped mountains in the distance

Lake Taupo is a huge lake (over 238 sq miles of surface) which sits in the crater of the Taupo Volcano.  This volcano's last big eruption (the Oruanui dated around 26,500 years ago) is the largest known in the last 70,000 years and is credited with starting the last global Ice Age. Thus Taupo Volcano has well earned it's status of one of the world's supervolcanos. Today Taupo Volcano is considered to be dormant (as opposed to extinct) because of continuing geothermal activity both around the lake and below it's surface.

By late afternoon, we reach our next destination, the town of Turangi on the south shore of Lake Taupo and situated on the west bank of the Tongariro River, famous for trout fishing.

Idyllic farmlands around Turangi

Turangi was built to house workers on the Tongariro hydro-electric dam. Today, the town is a draw for trout fishing and cyclists, but otherwise doesn't get too many tourists. It's a lovely little town with wide tree lined streets. The houses are well kept and the gardens have an a neat well tended English charm. We stay at the Turgani Holiday Park, where the friendly owners tell us about a walk along the river. After getting the vans set up, we head out on foot for the Tongariro river.

Turgani NZ

Garden wind vane

Settlers Motel looks like a great fishing lodge

We take the pedestrian tunnel under the highway to get the the river. The tunnel is decorated with graffiti art.  It's surprising to me that graffiti art is so common in a country as rich in natural wonders as New Zealand.  We emerge from the tunnel into a public park where local families are practicing rugby (naturally).

Graffiti art in pedestrian tunnel

???

Local rugby players

The late afternoon light makes plays its magic on the trees and bushes we pass along the way.
Soon we are walking along the banks of the Tongariro River which is dotted with people fly fishing for trout. We meet a local photographer returning to shore after wading out into the cold water bare footed to get some good shots in this light. He is shivering from the cold as he dries his feet, but is elated because he believes it's worth suffering for capturing great photos. He's quite chatty and tells us about the history of his family and his photography business.  Not wanting to miss the light myself, I wander away following the trail downstream to nab some good shots of my own.
After a good night's rest, we saddle up and continue our journey southward toward Wellington. NZ hwy 1 takes along the border of Tongariro National Park, that offers all kinds of adventures. In particular the hiking is highly recommended, but we are on schedule to catch a ferry and can't stop.

Mountains ahead

Many layers of volcanic eruptions in road cut

Now that's a mountain

We're getting closer

Mount Ruapehu

cinder cone

Beautiful drive through Tongariro National Park

We learn later that Mount Ruapehu is the most active volcano in New Zealand that has devastated the surrounding area with it's eruptions. Once passing the volcano, we drive through a vast desert wasteland created by these eruptions.

Road through volcanic desert

Terrain changes

back to the usual NZ farmlands.

After driving through farmlands again, the road descends down into the Rangitikei River gorge. We are amused to see a full sized DC 3 mounted alongside the road announcing the location for the Mangaweka Adventure Company.  This company has some interesting river trips and a nice campground. Had we known ahead of time, we would have stopped.

Descending into the Rangitikei River gorge

DC 3 sign for Mangaweka Adventure Company

This area is one on the top of my list to return to in the future. The bucolic town of Turangi has just about the nicest people we meet in New Zealand, plus a beautiful river. The Tongariro National Park beckons to be explored (who can resist a fascinating volcanic area?), and the Managaweka Adventure Company looks like a trip in itself. So many places to see and explore in New Zealand and so little time at even a month's duration.