Taupo and Beyond.

Somebodies home many years ago. Near the Tarawera Cafe on the Napier Taupo highway.

After an all too short stay at Mangakino we set off for Taupo. Before leaving town we visited the local Rugby Clubrooms to take advantage of the water and dump station as we both had tanks requiring some attention. From here we passed through Whakamaru onto SH32  and then branching off onto Poihipi Road which bought us through to the North end of Taupo on SH1. Nearing Wairakei Thermal power station we found kilometres of shiny new pipework where another thermal bore had been tapped into and the high pressure steam carried away to the power station below.

Gypsy Rover hidden in the Macrocarpa's at the Tarawera Cafe, Napier Taupo highway.

We spent a couple of hours sight seeing to see what changes had taken place since our last visit some 6 or 7 years ago. We were mainly interested in motorhome parking and freedom camping. Robin and Jenny then guided us to the local museum where we spent an hour or so reading up on the history of Taupo. One interesting fact to come to light was that in the early 1900’s Trout fisherman were allowed to take all they could catch which included some monsters in the 15lb – 25lb range. In 1920 in was deemed necessary to impose a limit of 3 fish per day at a minimum 40cm length. These days a fisherman who lands a 10lb-12lb fish can consider himself very lucky even though Lake Taupo is probably one of the best Trout fisheries in the world.

Native bush abounds near the Tarawera Cafe on the Napier Taupo highway.

About mid afternoon we all ventured off to the local Shell service station for diesel and petrol. It was here we said our farewells as Robin & Jenny were heading down SH1 to the Army Museum at Waiouru while our plans were to travel across SH 5 to Hastings. We have overnighted at the Tarawera Cafe halfway across the Napier Taupo Highway. This used to be a motor camp but was closed down. Nearby is the Tarawera Hot Springs which also used to be an attraction but for safety reasons the Department of Conservation have closed them. I went for a walk just to see what was involved with these Springs and found that the track was well worn and had been visited quite recently so perhaps the locals still take advantage of free hot baths.

Tarawera Hotpools now deemed unsafe by the Dept; of Conservation. Nice and clean and hot so somebody looks after them.

Waipunga river running behind the Tarawera Cafe, Napier Taupo highway.