Saturday 22 October 2011

Orakei Korako Hidden Valley

Back to Taupo,

Still a fantastic place to be, and spend 3 nights here before we head off to Rotorua.

We have a tourism guide box that's tied in to the GPS, when we pass places of interest this box goes "BING BONG" as it did for the"The hidden valley Orakei Korako" Cave and Thermal Park.
Situated 25 minutes north of Taupo, it's off the beaten track, a local guy said, "we will find it quieter than Rotorua area."
On picking up a leaflet, to read the following:   Orakei Korako ("The place of adorning)
  • "Orakei Korako is possibly the best thermal area left in new Zealand and one of the finest in the world" ref; Lonely Planet Guide.
  • Scenes from the BBC Natural History Series "Walking with Dinosaurs" were filmed here.

Take highway 5 out of Taupo, hang a right at Taupo Quad bikes following the road signs to Orakei 
Korako. 
The scenery is outstanding a in some cases breathtaking, long roads with lush green hills and peaks running in to twisty valleys coupled with blue sky's and fluffy white clouds.


Very easy place to find follow the signs and the road ends at the car park at Orakei Korako, to find out, that for a huge cost and for the tourists that feel rich, you can arrive by Helicopter or fly in by Floatplane from Taupo or Rotorua.














The ferry across the lake leaves on demand, so when you have paid you can either go straight across or have a coffee and browse the shop. We chose to get onto the 'small' ferry and take the short trip over, the view that you get first is of steam and golden silica running into the lake its awesome.  Off ferry and climb the well maintained ramps and pathways that meander throughout the journey, passed the bubbling water and mud pools, its like another planet.
Passed a couple of geysers that are unpredictable, we had a small show from one of them which coughed and spluttered boiling water out. You could feel the heat as we walked around.

We wandered through native bush and into a rare geothermal cave which was breathtaking and rocks of different colours.
This valley hasn't change for thousands of years and the leaflet informs us that 20 million litres of hot water flow over the silica terraces every day.
What stands out is the impact on our senses
from sounds, colour, noise and smell and that it's ever changing and unpredictable which could also be very dangerous.









The pictures I have placed are random, hopefully a taste of what we experienced.




















Monday 17 October 2011

Napier a Few Pictures / Hastings Too

 Napie
|=|=|=|
White waves upon the ocean
Will beat a path to where I roam
For in my heart there is a presence
And I will call that presence home
Darryn John Murphy 1970














































All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players,
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.
William Shakespeare 1564-1616 


 
I never understand how man could dare
To watch a city shaken to the ground
    To feel the tremors, here the tragic sound,
    of houses twisting, crashing everywhere,
    And not to be conquered by despair.
    Although his buildings crumble to a mound
    of worthless ruins, man has always found
    The urge to build a stronger city there.     

anon. penned after the 1931 Napier Hastings earthquake.


Hastings 
Next only a few pictures with Spanish & Art Deco influence.
  

Friday 7 October 2011

For Free Not Everything Cost.

Lake Taupo
What a place Taupo is.

I have found the place I would like to live, not sure about Jeannette though.

Today we spent $12 on Tourist thing in Taupo.

2 activities for free.

Plan today,```` is to walk to Huka Falls from the Spa Park, it is 50 minute walk on a track that follows the river. After we walk through the park then on to the track that followed the river, we came across a pleasant surprise, A hot spring running down the hill side into the river, a couple of kayak guys were laying in the hot water, as we took in the shock, we didn't bring our swimming gear, shame, skinny dipping it will have to be. LOL..........













The water is lovely and clear this is a hot spring.

The main river is also very clean and clear you can see right down to the bottom,
The pathway to the falls is quite steep in places but the view of the river makes it worth while.
We passed some great houses and well kept lawns this house I really like.






The hot spring on the way back was full of fun loving Argentinians, with a rugby ball.


We walked for another 30 minutes as we got closer the noise got louder, the river from 50m away the edge is fenced in to stop the public from getting to close, as we approached we saw a bridge over the falls and into the car park, just for the lazy guys!!!!!!!!!!!
For water falls the noise, power and colour of the water is simply breath taking well worth the walk.

















Looking down the falls>>>>>>>>



Looking up the falls>>>>>>>>>>












We finished off the afternoon yes not free but $12 spend, walking around a place called "Craters of the Moon" not to ruin our visit and blog of Rotorua in the next 2 weeks, I am not going to say anything other than we had a great day.
At 5pm soaked in the holiday parks 38c out door pool for an hour.

Ok here you go...............................1 Picture of the Craters of the Moon landscape












Monday 3 October 2011

Hot Water Beach.

Hot Water Beach Top 10 Camp Site.


  • Arrived at 13.30 
  • Low tide 1800
  • Allow 2 hours either side of low tide gives us 4 hours
Question:- Where are we?

Hot Water Beach.......................................................................

2 hours hours either side of low water you can dig your very own "SPA"

Note, it has not stopped raining all day if you think I am going on a beach to sit in the wet.........??????

To Right I Can.

Rules, Equipment, Planning.

Rules: 50m either side of the rocks, 2 hours either side of low tide.

Note Gray day

Equipment: A Spade, Swimming Gear.

Planning: Know were to Dig.

Arrived at beach in camper van all kitted out, plus our spade, camera, now to find where to dig.

First 2 places we failed, didn't know the rules.

Tide too high, a person said to Jeannette "find the hot hot spots in the sand then dig" 
That's all right tide still to high, boy I had dig for England, I am going to suffer tomorrow. 

Hot water 







1 hour with another English guy we made a dam 


against the sea, our very own spa, we had about an hour of laying in very very hot spring water, our very own spa.

It was so hot that in some places you could not stand on the sand, it was funny to watch, as people found the really 'HOT' sand and jumped out of the way!!!



How Cool is that.!!!!!!!!
Water temp 40C +