We woke to an amazing sight out the window, which sent me running across the road with my camera half asleep and almost dressed. Dad also ventured across the road, with my enthusiastic prompting. We were greeted with a gorgeous patch of sun which was like a halo around then snowcapped mountains over Lake Taupo. Most of our weather had been overcast/ raining and this was the first patch of blue and only the second time we had seen the mountains.

After a quick clean up of the apartment we took off down the street for a coffee before embarking our 19 seater plane at Taupo airport.

The airport was tiny… and so was the plane but the scene outside the plane window was magnificent. Colin had a little ‘panic attack’ but I didn’t notice because I was too busy filming out the window. After arriving at Auckland, we caught a plane of a much more decent size to Queenstown on the Sth Island.

Taupo to Auckland

All I can say is WOW. The view from the plane coming towards Queenstown is gobsmacking. The plane skimmed across the snowcapped mountain ranges and water inlets. We were almost on Dads lap trying to see because it was jaw dropping scenery. Colin and I spent a week in the French Alps last year so we are not new to this type of scenery but we were still overwhelmed by the sight.

The view from our window

Our accommodation in Queenstown is far above our rank (according to Dad). It would be the nicest place we have ever stayed in and overlooks the stunning lake, surrounded  by mountains. Then entire loungeroom wall is like a giant painting (the windows completely open the wall up when you slide them across) and our bedroom also has this view.

Dad has his own coffee making facilities, microwave, TV and bathroom so he claims he is going to live in there and not come out.

Taupo to Auckland small plane view

We are all exhausted and looking forward to waking up in a new adventure tomorrow!

The intrepid travellers sailed into the mist of Lake Taupo on the ‘Cruisecat’. The boat being chosen by the usual process… Colin asked his ‘multiple choice’ questions in his quiz compare voice, while we attempt to guess what he has already decided.

COL: Do you want to go on:

A) The Cruisecat

B) The replica Steamboat

C) The sailing boat called ‘The Barbara’

DAD: (with his pre-recorded response) ‘I don’t mind’

COL:’Are you sure you are happy with your answer?’ (asked 20 times).

Somehow we ended up on the Cruisecat.

Unfortunately it was too misty to see the snow capped mountains but we enjoyed seeing the huge carvings on the rocks and feeling the serenity of the cruise. The free coffees and muffins were a hit which can’t be overlooked either.

Dad and Col then visited the museum while I got my priorities in order and took some time for retail therapy.

We were back at the resort only a short time, when, a young chap decided to plough into our rental car with his 4WD (while we were innocently parked in the resort car park). It seems his thongs were slippery and he missed the brake and hit the accelerator instead. He mounted the curb and into the car, leaving quite a substantial dent and the panel pushed into the wheel. Col and Dad worked hard to pull it off the wheel temporarily. I was too busy being photographer to help but they seemed to have it all in control. The 4WD, by the way, had a mark the size of a 5 cent piece. Monster. The ‘young chap’ was driving his fathers car and he copped a serving from him over the phone and returned looking quite red faced. He originally gave us his fathers name as the driver… interesting.

Then, after an attempt to assist two women of a mature age, to fix their oven so their tea could cook… we succumbed to comfort food and had ‘fush and chups’, beer and wine. All we need now is chocolate and life will be complete.

Who would have thought Dad would have eaten a Hangi, particpated in a Haka and found himself partially cooked from the sizzling hot mud pools at Rotorua?

Yesterday we took the 1 hour drive from Taupo to Rotorua (leaving early in nthe morning) and after much decision making, ventured off to ‘Hells Edge’ to a delightful, steamy collection of mud pools. The name of the place was  very suitable. The photos don’t capture the heat, sulphuric smell or the overwhelming sight of the bubbling mud. Some of the pools had thick black mud bubbling at 130 degrees. The 2 hour walk was indespersed with a treck through a semi rainforest section. This was a stark contrast to the nuclear like landscape of the sizzling volcanic rocks.

After this hot and exhausting excursion we meandered around Rotorua inspecting old railway lines, rose gardens with killer bees on them and architecture.

Although we were already pretty pooped… we had purchased tickets to go to the Mitai Maori village at 6.15pm so we wearily drove off hoping to sit for a while. We were surprised to find about 200 people in a tent sitting ‘Swagman restaurant’ style. The maori MC was both funny and clever and entertained us for the night with his animated quips.

Expecting to eat tea… we were in for a shock as we were taken to watch a maori tribe arrive down a creek in a canoe in the bush (yes… more bushwalking!). After their arrival we walked to a  ‘stage’ area where we were got to witness and participate in a Haka and were entertained by a semi naked and heavily tatood maori chief, who also had a wicked sense of humour.

At last… we got to EAT and wow the food was delicious. Dad was surprised to realise he was eating roast lamb and chicken with veges and not some kind of ‘weird food’ as he was expecting.
After dinner we went glow worm hunting in the bush. Walking through pitch black forest is quite challenging (glow worms won’t come out if you have the torch on) but we managed to do this without any nasty accidents. At the end of the walk there was a mystical pond with a big black eel swimming around.
We finished up at 9.30 and had a 1 hour drive home to Taupo.

Today is raining (for the first time during the day) so Dad and I plan to relax and re-cuperate. Colin is pretending to relax but so far he hasn’t sat in one spot for more than 30 seconds… Let’s hope he finds a colouring book or something cos we are pooped!

Col went to get the car in Auckland while Dad and I went into the ‘Groovy music shop’. We then began our 4 hour journey to Taupo, with a stop at Huntly for delicious pies and cakes.

Tom Tom lived up to his reputation and took us on a journey down ‘old Taupo road’ (what was wrong the the ‘new’ one?). It was slow but scenic, which is the usual outcome when the GPS takes us ‘off road’ and not always a bad thing.

Our arrival at Taupo was met with surprise as we hadn’t expected the town to be so large. There are beaut shops… including ‘Clints warehouse’ and Dick Smiths. Those who know Dad will understand the joy of that!

Our accommodation is really lovely and faces Lake Taupo, which is the largest body of water in Oceana. Evidentially, you could put Singapore in the lake and there would still be room. I’m not sure why you’d do that but it would make the trip to buy Singapore noodles quicker I guess. It’s walking distance to restaurants and shops with a driving range onto a pontoon in the lake out the front.

The following day the intrepid travellers went touring on a boat to see the Haku falls and the dam opening. This was quite spectacular, with the boat hovering around the base of the falls as best it could.

A sitcom could be made of our days… with many funny conversations and situations forentertainment. Here is one from breakfast time this morning.

COL: It was great that I got up so early, I got a free newspaper from reception.

ME: It’s yesterdays newspaper Col.

I will leave you with that for today!

At 4.30am I phoned Dad to wake him so we could go catch the plane and he announced that he had been up for an hour. You can imagine how tired we were by the end of the day after such an early start. Travelling with Dad is a joy.

We managed day 1 without a single squabble between the three of us. Just 17 days to go now! Seriously, Dad takes such interest in the world around him and delights in everything… especially and including, the Auckland railway station. It feels no different to Australia to him so I think the fear of the culture shock has already subsided on day one. Perhaps not the sore feet though from Col and his exploring and getting ‘lost’ in Auckland.

He experienced ‘health food’ for tea (Subway) and like us, took great delight in finding his bed at the end of the day. Speaking of bedrooms… WE had a little ‘dog box of a room’ and DAD got a 2 bedroom unit with a loungeroom and full kitchen!!! We paid the same price. How did that work?

Travelling with the only two men who DON”T HAVE MOBILE PHONES on the Earth is going to be interesting. Col tends to wander off and Dad is currently situated on another floor of the motel. Any hints are welcome!

Auckland put on a show of remarkably mild weather and impressed us with how clean, un-vandalised and friendly it was. Even the police waved to us (do we look that much like tourists?). Tomorrow we are off to Taupo which will be quite a drive (5 hours) but thanks to my friend Tom Tom and the rented Camry (how unique Col) it should be a smooth trip.