Taupo sits on the northern shore of Lake Taupo which is New Zealand’s “great lake.” The largest lake in NZ was created by one of the world's greatest volcanic explosions. The huge lake is now known as a trout-fishing paradise.

We visited the Taupo Museum and Art Gallery and watched a video of the Taupo Story. There we saw a Maori meeting house, many Maori carvings and artifacts and an old Waka, or canoe. We visited ORA – the Garden of Well Being, which won a gold medal for its design.

We then walked through the town and discovered a bakery selling freshly baked meat pies. They were delicious.

We also went to see Huka Falls, meaning “great body of spray.” The falls is a giant turquoise torrent of water moving through a narrow passage. It runs It is near the Wairakei Geothermal Power Project. Taupo is is volcanically active and steam from the geothermal activity provides a great deal of electrical power.

We visited Craters of the Moon, walking for an hour around the mud pools, craters and steam vents. On the way to Rotorua, we passed many places where steam came from the earth. We also passed numerous tourist activities – helicopter tours, river rides, horse trekking, mazes, bungy jumping, cave experiences, and on and on. Too much to do, too little time…….