Today is Anzac day!
After a leisurely start we headed straight to Taupo town and the lake. One 'must see' in Taupo, according to the guide book is McDonalds, voted the best McDonalds in world! Under much duress, we thought we'd check it out. Embedded in the side of the building is a huge airplane, full of seating for customers to munch on their burgers!
Just down the street the road was closed for a memorial service. We parked up and joined the crowds. Many smartly dressed members of the NZ forces stood on parade whilst a service was conducted to remember their commerades.
We continued our journey north passing many small villages but we stopped in one particular town called Matamata. Or, otherwise known as Hobbiton! The i-centre was a small building in the centre decorated in full hobbit attire and looked fantastic. For a 'not so small' fee, you could visit The Hobbit movie set, just out of town.
Onward ... we stopped again in Te Aroha for a short walk and to dip our toes in the thermal, mineral foot bath! Very relaxing indeed ...
Even though the foot bath was lovely, our next stop was our highlight of the day. Between 2 small towns lies the Karangahake gorge. We took a one hour walk along the old gold mining tracks of the gorge and through the tunnels! The walk is called the Windows Walk as every so often the tunnel has a window (hole) overlooking the river below where the miners used to tip their rubble. We used a torch to light our way through the pitch black tunnels and in the darkness tiny glow worms lit the route! They really are amazing, just like tiny glow sticks... One tunnel lead to an old pump station but we couldn't walk any further as the area was signposted as dangerous.
We camped by the river, the comforting sound of the water ensuring an early night.
After a leisurely start we headed straight to Taupo town and the lake. One 'must see' in Taupo, according to the guide book is McDonalds, voted the best McDonalds in world! Under much duress, we thought we'd check it out. Embedded in the side of the building is a huge airplane, full of seating for customers to munch on their burgers!
Just down the street the road was closed for a memorial service. We parked up and joined the crowds. Many smartly dressed members of the NZ forces stood on parade whilst a service was conducted to remember their commerades.
We continued our journey north passing many small villages but we stopped in one particular town called Matamata. Or, otherwise known as Hobbiton! The i-centre was a small building in the centre decorated in full hobbit attire and looked fantastic. For a 'not so small' fee, you could visit The Hobbit movie set, just out of town.
Onward ... we stopped again in Te Aroha for a short walk and to dip our toes in the thermal, mineral foot bath! Very relaxing indeed ...
Even though the foot bath was lovely, our next stop was our highlight of the day. Between 2 small towns lies the Karangahake gorge. We took a one hour walk along the old gold mining tracks of the gorge and through the tunnels! The walk is called the Windows Walk as every so often the tunnel has a window (hole) overlooking the river below where the miners used to tip their rubble. We used a torch to light our way through the pitch black tunnels and in the darkness tiny glow worms lit the route! They really are amazing, just like tiny glow sticks... One tunnel lead to an old pump station but we couldn't walk any further as the area was signposted as dangerous.
We camped by the river, the comforting sound of the water ensuring an early night.
