Hello everyone,

We arrived in Taupo on Sunday to very nice weather and a great view across the lake. We passed through Tongariro National Park on the way up here, which is apparently the fourth oldest National Park in the world and contains three active volcanoes. Lake Taupo itself is a volcanic lake formed after a huge eruption.

Yesterday we took a walk out to the thermal streams which was quite a way but again the weather was really nice. Where the streams join the local river you can get in and have a paddle, although right at the mouth of the streams the water is too hot to get in completely. Even Sian had to lower her feet in slowly, and her skin can take the heat like asbestos. A little further out though the water had mixed enough with the rest of the river for us to sit down on the rocks with our legs in the water and soak up some rays.

Today I had a 30 minute flight in a glider. It's been about 9 years since I went solo with the ATC, and about 4 years since I last flew in one - but my instructor was happy for me to take the controls for all but the first bit of the take off. I'd only ever flown with a winch launch before, but here they aero tow the gliders to about 4000 ft. After a couple of minutes I had settled in and we spent most of the flight ridge soaring off one of the local mountains. Unfortunatley after two days of good weather the clouds had moved in so we couldn't thermal or do any aerobatics. Still, it was fun.

Tomorrow we are heading off to Rotorua, stopping off at Waitomo for another fun filled day. But we won't tell you about that now.... Stay tuned!

Fin and Sian