March 26-27, 2019
Thanks to jetlag we woke up at 6:30 am. Breakfast was not included with the room so we leisurely ate pastries and yogurt we had gotten from the grocery store while catching up on the news.
Ernest Kemp Lake Cruise
We scheduled a cruise with Ernest Kemp at 10:30 am to see the Maori Rock Carvings on Lake Taupo. We left the hotel with enough time to find the dock, grab some coffee and enjoy the crisp air. Our coffee saga continued as we learned what a flat white was and how popular they were in New Zealand. The country was transitioning into fall so you could feel the briskness in the air. At the designated time, we hopped aboard a boat with about 20 other people to take a loop around the lake and view the rock carvings. I had initially thought that these carvings were done by the Maori peoples, but it was actually a tribute to them. This doesn’t discount the awe of them a bit, but does make it a little more perplexing. One of the items the brochure advertised was cookies. There were no cookies! But it was still a pleasant way to spend time on the water our first day.
Throughout our three week trip, we learned that our accents gave us away as Americans and as a result, everyone was quickly to jump on commenting about Trump (whether pro or con). One of the men that my dad sat next to on the cruise was eager to share that he frequently watched Fox News.
Huka Falls and Aratiatia Dam
After our cruise, we were feeling relaxed and partly drowsy. It was a great way to see around the lake without having to put any effort in. Next, it was time to get some exercise. We drove to the Spa Thermal Park to take the walk to Huka Falls. It was about a 2 hour hike round trip that followed a dirt path with some minor ups and downs.
We were feeling energized and agreed to try to squeeze in one more touristy thing. The timing was perfect to go to the Aratiatia Dam to see floodgates open at 4pm. On the way back we stopped at Lava Glass to use the bathroom.
Lakehouse and Incredible India
By then we had worked up an appetite and parked downtown to grab a snack and a beer at the Lakehouse. I had read that the establishment boasts a large range of craft beer, but I was somewhat underwhelmed by the selection. It didn’t help that the server wasn’t well versed on the offerings. Although we were able to find something to enjoy, the parmesan polenta fries won our hearts.
We stopped at Countdown to check out the grocery selection and walked across the street to have dinner at Incredible India. We had passed it while driving around and when we stopped, we were pleasantly surprised. We love Indian food and enjoy comparing our favorite dishes in various countries.
Waipahihi Botanical Gardens
We slept in a little bit the next morning, until 7 am. Today was going to be a relaxing day after our packed tourist day yesterday. We hit up the Waipahihi Botanical Gardens and walked around a few mini loop trails. We then browsed downtown and bought some pastries from Brumby’s and Robert Harris. While dad decided to go back to the hotel and rest, the girls had lunch at Replete Café and walked around the Taupo Museum.
Although Taupo was a great first stop on our New Zealand adventure, it was much more touristy than expected. After Huka Falls and the Aratiatia Dam, we felt like we had seen what there was to offer at that time of year.
March 28-29, 2019: Two Days in New Plymouth