From Turangi on tuesday through tuapo to turanga....the 3 T'S!

Yesterday, leaving turangi the full view of lake tuapo clear to see an extensive area, new zealands largest lake 606sqkm!! A water filled crater from a volcanic blast. The town has become very popular, an abundance of tourist attractions physicaly and from adrenaline sports to shoping its all there, a feel of queenstown about this area.

On our way through a look at kuka falls; where new zealands longest river is slammed into a dramatic chasm erroding a 10meter deep plungepool! Incredable the force of water! From there to the aratiatia rapids, where a hydroelectric dam has been built at part of this incredable river, they have created a toruist attraction by opening the flood gates every 2 hours and allowing turists to stand at many of the lookout points as the gates open. It is amazing to see the amount of water released as it rushes into the gorge it has eroded and is continueing to erode. A look at the honey hive for some free honey tasting, the honey is out fo this world in new zealand, we tasted 10 different types, nearly all tasted amaizng to me. We never had enough time to read trhough all the information, there was a glas box with a bee hive to look at.

The next stop had been rotorua however with the rain so heavy we decided to go straight over to turanga at the east coast! A very wet drive across but nicer weather at the other side the western bay of plenty. Turnaga has grown from its increasingly bus port and turists visiting the area. Anice town geographical split and so navigating proved a little tiresome!

Tthis morning we drove across to mount maunganui named after the 232m hill, which i went up today on a blue sky morning, views of the town and beaches. A perfect way to begin the day once again, leaving maunganui and heading east abefore decending down to rotaurua. Stoping at kiwi 360 a giant kiwi to get a picture with and i never relised you get golden fleshed kiwis all the time ive been hear i still havnt eaten one!

Now there's never a moment when you dont learn something or relise how little you know, car troubles along the way changed plans a little, but a luckily making it to a garage and all fixed up we were on the road again. Plans can never be 100% so when you travel you make the most of everything being flexible is great and so that has taken me back to taupo where i will spend the week. Meeting back with the girl i had traveled with in the south island on monday, this week i will explore further around tuapo. I had planned to be heading along the east coast and exploring this area further witch is dissapointing but any place i see is a bonous and so ill make the most of where ever i am in this amazing country that continues to make a smile :)!