i-site marathon

Called Kerry back home to wish her Happy 40th!

After a leisurely breakfast we checked out of Tui and checked in to the i-site (information centre). The most helpful Rhonda advised and booked us up on some river trips, geothermal experiences, fishing, accommodation and walking. Left at lunchtime and drove into Taupo. The magnitude of the lake soon became apparent - more of an inland sea. One could only speculate at the force of the explosion which left this c40km diameter crater in the earth's surface.

There was an around- the-lake running relay taking place, runners changing every 7km. Drove through town the to shrimp farm near Huka Falls: looked naff and had run out of their own livestock so didn't stay for food. Did a u-turn in the car park and headed for a leisurely cruise down the Waikato river from the Ariatata dam to the falls. Sad moment: a coot's nest by the pontoon had been washed away by the constant rise and fall of the river (effect of hydroelectric power station). A solitary egg was half submerged on a bed of twigs and the parents were frantically trying to add more buoyant sticks. Dave the guide said he had tried to help but the mother coot nearly pecked his hand off…..he also explained that there are no natural predators in New Zealand, so birds generally have an easy time. Plodded upstream on Dave's barge taking in the fast flowing clear turquoise water, giant ferns, willows, trout, swans, mallards, falcons and a huge aging geothermal power station. Vinnie stood on the bow and did her Kate Winslett impression. Falls were quite something: 225,000 liters a second made is NZ's biggest.

Checked in to Moselle and settled down for a snooze before dinner. There was a gentle knock at the door. Hayley, Rhiannon and Bethanhad come down all the way from Auckland to surprise us. (Hayley and Annelise worked together at the Mirror). We decamped to the terrace outside their motel and cracked open a bottle of Chardy. Later had dinner at a dubious looking establishment on the waterfront near our B&B (recommended by the B&B hosts). Despite the décor being 80's themed, mostly original fittings, and clientele were out of a star wars bar, it served up a decent snapper, very tasty venison and a good Pinot Noir. Back at their Motel, H presented A with this week's edition of her magazine. Imagine Annelise's surprise to see the editorial was dedicated to her, with H reminiscing about the 4 o'clock club they had at the Mirror (a group skived off daily to have a glass of champagne) and mentioning Annelise as one of the founder members. The theme was that all friends should have a kind of 4 o'clock club. Annelise was choked, so another bottle of Chardy seemed appropriate. The girls caught up whilst I read H's mag from over to cover. It was aimed at a female readership, but I learned a few good snippets (I had no idea about Portia de Rossi - what a waste!!)…..