Taupo

Next on my trip was Lake Taupo. Taupo is around an active volcano, and is a quaint little village of around 3,000. We are required to stay 2 nights in Taupo to give the bus driver a day off, but my friend and I decided to stay an extra night in Taupo. The main reason that people come to Taupo is to do the Tongariro Crossing, which is a 19km walk over and around active and dormant volcanoes and through a massive national park. Everyone that I know that has done it says it's the best day they have ever had and that it is amazing. The day we arrived we found out that the crossing was closed due to gail force winds the next day, so we were very happy we booked an extra day. However, the next day we found out, yet again, that the crossing was closed due to snow and wind. So we stayed an extra night in this town for nothing. Oh well, it was pretty, and FREEZING! [literally it was 0C (32F)]. When it's windy and rainy what do you do? You sit in cafes all morning chatting with your friends about the shenanigans the night before, spend the afternoon napping or reading in your dorm room, and the evening at the pub/bar, and repeat.

Although we missed a massive part of the tour and I'm gutted that I will not get to see it on the Kiwi Experience tour, now I have a reason to come back to this beautiful country!

Next is River Valley....

Bye for now <3