Well what a beautiful unexpected day! We had a day up our sleeves as I forgot we had to be out of our time share Friday, not Saturday! So we have two days to get to Wanganui....thought of going north but a huge cyclone Lusi is coming to north North island so we headed south! We stopped in Turangi at end of lake Taupo and went for a walk along the river....major river that floods into the lake...lots of trout! Went to swinging bridge...very quiet and peaceful! Lovely walk...then we decided to go to mountains and see what a volcanic eruption in 1995 did to a famous ski resort in Mt Ruapehu which is still an active volcano! Wow, how incredible...ugly and majestic at the same time! Never seen anything like it! And signs all over about Lahars...a mudflow from the crater lake of Mt Ruapehu...sirens will ring and you need to go high as the flow goes to the valleys...so surreal here! We took two chair lifts to near the top, had lunch and a walk around up there....would love to come back and ski in the winter...if my knee will last thru it! Well we had no where planned to stay so found this beautiful old chalet ...bay view chalet tongario...and decided to splurge and spend the night here....a real delight! We had a drink in the elegant lounge, I went for a sauna and swim and we had a lovely dinner at the hotel....unexpected but lovely stop! Then we stayed in the lounge listening to live music by the piano man....a perfect ending to a perfect day! On tender hooks as cyclone is coming tonight...so we will see what tomorrow brings!