Taupo and Rotorua

By New Year's Eve we had arrived in Taupo, and found our AirBnb, a short walk from the lake.  The host greeted us with a raisin loaf still warm from the breadmaker - very nice!  In Taupo they have a pretend-midnight fireworks display at 10 pm for the kids, which is just right for us!  We sat on the beach and watched the display, although it was some distance away toward the town centre.

New Year fireworks at Lake Taupo.

On the first day of the new decade we revisited the local sights - Huka Falls, Ariatiatia rapids, and the Wairakei GNS offices where James sometimes goes as part of his role.

Morning coffee beside the old Sikorsky helicopter near Huka falls.

The falls are always impressive when there is a reasonable amount of water flowing through.

The tourist boats nose up close to the thundering Huka Falls, for photo opportunities.

The Aratiatia rapids provide daily entertainment as the gates on the dam above are opened to transform the rapids from a quiet trickle into a raging torrent.  Normally the water is diverted past the rapids in underground penstocks to a power station just downstream, but as a concession to tourism the gates are opened three or four times a day to provide this spectacle.

Sirens sound several times before each opening of the gates, to warn anyone in the riverbed.

The peaceful scene before the gates are opened.

Ten minutes later the same scene is quite different!

It is fascinating watching as the water level rises to cover rocks the size of a bus which were previously high and dry.  This is the Waikato River, which explains the great volume of water.

We had a couple of swims in the lake - it was not cold.

On our way from Taupo to Ohope we stopped for lunch in Rotorua, and detoured to the redwood forests where there are walks among the trees.  These trees were planted here 118 years ago.  We have happy memories of walking here when L and J were very small, with their Timaru grandparents.  Now there is also tree-top walkway, a big tourist attraction, so we bought our tickets and did that too.

The tree-top walk, 500 metres long and with 23 bridges.

Even Harry and Meghan have been here!

The highest platform is about 20 metres up.

These large lightshades hanging amongst the trees are lit up at night.

The entry / exit ramp gets you up to the walkway.

PS. After our Ohope holiday Lisa and Adam returned here and did the walkway at night, when it is all illuminated.