Another late ish start to the day, Sam is hoping to do a skydive while in Taupo so we’re hoping the weather conditions are ok for her to do it today. It didn’t start off raining but around 8.00am it started and just didn’t stop, so no skydive today then. We were all waiting until the rain stopped to make any plans for the day but around 11.00am Sam and Steph came over to ours and we sat in our van to make plans. It was hard because there is so much to do around Taupo but it’s walks and outdoor things. The rain was pretty heavy too so we would be instantly soaked seen as none of us has suitable clothing or shoes. We decided that we would see if Sam could book a skydive for tomorrow if so we’ll stay visit some things and get wet, if not we’ll visit some stuff on the way somewhere else. Sam and Steph went to the i-site, Sam booked onto a skydive for tomorrow morning at 9.20am (weather permitting). James had read about a Dam nearby which lets it’s water out at certain times of the day and is supposed to be really good to watch. It was opening the flood gates at 2.00pm so just enough time for Sam and Steph to get something to eat and for us all to get there. We got there and the timer made a noise, seven minutes until it happens, just enough time to walk/run to the five minute away look out spot. It made several more alarms counting down and then the water came. We all thought it was going to be a giant splash down the valley but instead it was huge amounts of water which goes in the lake at the top, when that’s full it flows over the edge into the next and so on and so on. When it finally came down as fast as it could it did look cool because it covered so much of what was there to begin with then when the water stopped coming everything started to appear again. The water was also amazingly clear. We got back in the vans and headed for a look out spot for the Huka falls. The water was extremely blue, we then went down to have a look at them properley which was really cool as you stand on a bridge with the water flowing fast underneath you. We then wanted to try and go to the Volcanic Activity Centre but when we got there it was closed. Still thoroughly raining at this point we popped to the supermarket to get a few bits each and then spent a couple of hours charging our phones and using free wifi making plans for tomorrow. If Sam can skydive we’ll hang around and hopefully get to watch her come down, if not we’ll start driving straight away. We’ll be heading for the Waitomo Caves which are glow worm caves, we’re going there for my birthday, it should be great.