This weekend we decided to do our first big trip away from Waipuka. We decided to head for lake Taupo the largest lake in the north islands. We were very lucky as the weather was very beautiful up there so we decieded to do the crators of the moon first. This was a place where creator were formed over thousands of years in which steam flows from them on a daily basis. As we walked through the different sites the heat was intense and the smell was even worse but the views were out of this world. At the bottom of one of the creators the steam comming out of the ground was so intense that the mud was boiling and bubbleing the noise being made by the pressure of the steam was like when you kettle has boiled. We then headed for the Aratiatia dam. Water is released from this 4times a day to reanact what the rapids would have looked like before the dam was built. We watched this from a veiw point high above the rapids. Once the dam had been opened it only took a matter of minutes before the rapids were in full flow with more than four olymipc swimming pools being released a second. As you can gather from this the water was going some speed and with great force. After we had seen this we needed to go and find some where to stay James had seen a backpackers place in the middle of town which was quite cheap so we went there and got a room for the night as we entered the room we both looked at each other and before we even thought about it walked out and asked for our money back. (Now we know why it was so cheap). We then continued to look for accomidation and came across a place called flash packers we thought this was right up our street. We booked the room and this time ended up staying there as it was like a real hotle TV in the room and a king size bed what more could you ask for. After we had sat down for a while we both decided to go for a swim in a thermal lake that we had heard about. as we arrived it looked lie nothing a waterfall running into a lake but as we got in the temeperature of the water was hotter than a bath. It was strange to think that the water was naturaly this hot. As we sat down in the lake the top half was hot yet the bottom half was cold all you had to do was raise your legs up a little and it was really hot again. (how weird) The second day in Tupo we decided to go visit the Huka falls this is where the river narrows into a cannon and the water rushes through and of an 11metre drop. We didnt really stay there for long as we had booked to go on the Huka Jet. This is a jet boat that takes you round the river at speeds of up to 80kmh and takes you to the mouth of the falls on the way to the falls you do 360spins and go through parts of the river that are unthinkable for a boat.We both got very wet but at the same time was a great expiriance and one that we wont forget in a long time. We are both now going to find work as we have a new project we want to do. we are going on a helicopter trip over the three main volcano's in New Zealand this is where the lord of the rings was shot. Speak to you all soon James and Vicky