Lovely start to the day, & not rushed, thanks to Rodney! Left at~10.30, after filling in a very positive feedback form, & went straight to the Genesis Recreation Centre for a swim in the indoor heated pool. There was also a spa (over 16s only!), a waterslide/chute, a kids pool with a "river" (with quite a strong current) & a full sized swimming pool. We all really enjoyed ourselves there, for ~90mins, & then it was time to leave Masterton, but not before popping back to The Wool Shed, to buy L's slippers!

Then into the car for the long drive north, via the Pahiatua Track to Palmerston North, as the Manawatu Gorge Road was closed, due to a rockfall. We pulled over, about half way along the track, close to the summit, to eat lunch, but it was too windy to eat outside, so we ate in the car. In fact, it was so windy, it was almost impossible to open the car door, & D had to turn the car 90˚ to prevent things being blown out of the boot of the car! We did, however, get spectacular views of Te Apiti windfarm - the largest in the southern hemisphere - from that location, & also from the lookout by the sports centre in Ashhurst, where we stopped briefly, to read all about the planning development & building of the windfarm.

Then we headed north, on SH54, & stopped briefly at Stormy Point (still very windy!), for views of 400,000 years of river terraces, created by the Rangitikei River. We joined SH1, & retraced part of our southward journey, passing the turning to the "gorgeous gorges", & the arm museum at the junction with SH49. This time, we stayed on SH1 & drove along the eastern edge of the Tongiriro National Park, pausing briefly to take photos of Mt Ruapehu, this time only partially obscured by cloud!

We reached Panakai, & found the Tongariro base camp café, bus station & holiday park! $80 for a reasonable sized cabin (dbl in curtained off, "separate" room + bunk + single); functional kitchen (nice table!) but hardly any equipment. Not a great "feel" to the place, but the manager was friendly, & it was getting too late to look elsewhere. Quick tea (reheated the cauli-cheese leftovers) then D drove to Tauangi for supplies (mostly chocolate to use as bribes on tomorrow's long walk!) & fuel, whilst L dealt with the kids.

Forecast is for cloud & showers to lift by early morning, then fine.