Day 76 - Tamarunui

Stayed here today to send our blog, arrange accomodation for tomorrow and to go to the Bank. Had a look around the town, children still off school so quite busy. Far more Maori live in the North Island, it's warmer and they appear to prefer it. Generally, they appear less affluent than their white counterparts, but I must say they are friendly towards us if we make the first approach to say Hello.

Day 77 Taumarunui - Turangi

Great weather this morning and just under 70k to cover today. Beginning with climbing for 15k via Pungapunga, to Waituhi Saddle 870 meters, spectacular views of Tongariro and Mt. Egmont followed by steep rolling hills for many kilometers. When we reached Tokaanu, the one and only place to eat, we decided to drop into the thermal pools (40C) to ease the leg muscles . . . after chatting with a German travelling around NZ in a campervan got to Turangi at 4pm.

Day 78 Turangi - Lake Taupo

Lovely ride travelling out of Turangi with mountain ranges all around us and very green pastures. Unfortunately we had to use State Highway 1 for the journey into Taupo and there is no way you can relax, it's the main highway with no hard-shoulder in some part, especially when you travel over a bridge, which are very common much the same problem as in Oz. The logging lorries with trailers (road trains) come rushing past at quite a speed, some give you room if they can but others ........ Rode around Lake Taupo, once a huge volcano and source of the longest river in NZ (Waikato) which travels 400k to the Tasman Sea. You can do everything here, bungy jumping, sky-diving, rafting, kayaking, tramping and cruises around the lake, beautiful place. Always events taking place, tomorrow Oxfam 100k walk over 36 hours . . . giving that a swerve.

Day 79 Lake Taupo - Saturday

They have a bar in this BBH Hostel so music still going on quite late and there is an Oxfam group that are walking and got up a 4 am to get ready to go to the starting line. . . impossible to sleep! Taupo town is situated at the top (north) end of the lake and there is a lot of new development around the lake, very much like Oz. We took a walk along the Waikato River to Huka Falls via the Bungy Jump. The river and falls were a great sight together with the lake.

Day 80 Lake Taupo - Sunday

Completely given up with this BBH, there is always someone talking all night. Used the ear plugs around 1 am. Overcast first thing so decided to do the blog and send pictures, which is always a drama the server always plays-up. Also planned the next couple of days journey.

Thanks for messages Ron and D+L , have a good holiday Dave and Lin in France, see you upon our return and happy birthday for the 16th Davey Boy. Weather as it turns out has improved the sun's out! Bye to everyone and love to all and hope that everyone is well in England . . . well not everyone just the ones that we know!!! Along with the few we know in NZ.