Lake Taupo

Lake Taupo is the largest lake in New Zealand, with a surface of 622 km2.
This place is one of New Zealands most popular holiday destinations, and the kiwis like to be entertained when they are on holiday, so it seems. Reminds me a little bit of what we saw in Queenstown, fun to be had on every corner, if you have the cash ;)
Bungyjumping, skydiving, scenic flights and much more.
Yesterday Michel insisted we go fishing on the lake, and so we did. We rented a whole boat and a skipper, Shawn, who immigrated from England 21 years ago and has been back to England only once.
He first took us out to see carvings into the rock made by the Maori. I told the children they were made many, many years ago (I think I might have mentioned 2000 years) and we fantasized how they would have made them back in those days. Back inside the boat we asked the skipper about this and were a bit disappointed to learn the were made in 1975 using medical equipment.
We caught three trouts, brought the biggest to one of the better restaurants in town where we had it as an entree the same evening.
Today we went to see the Huka falls and then went swimming in the Waikato river (NZ s longest river)  and this was really special because the swimming hole was warm, boiling hot even in some places thanks to the thermal water streaming into it from one of the hot springs. A round of sushi to end a perfect day and back home to our farm in the Shire with a perfect view on the Mount Do.
Tomorrow we are moving again. Going to Roturoa for some more thermal activity and hopefully a glimpse of Maori culture, which is a bit hard to spot in this country. If you disregard the souvenir shops with the commercial culture.
See you soon.

Rainbow trout

The crew

Emil

Sweet fish

Cattle in rural Taupo

The "ancient" carvings

Dinner

Lake Taupo in front of Mount Doom (Ngauruhoe)

Ice cream vendors at Huka falls and their 1952 Moris mini

Lake Taupo

Waikato River

Natural hot tub

Louis and Madeleine