Clockwise from top left: Clearcutting along the drive, Huka Falls, View of Lake Taupo, trees on our hike, Panorama from below Huka Falls, more Huka Falls, Us!
Starting Point: Rotorua
Ending Point: Lake Taupo
Kilometers traveled: 112
Today we made the last minute decision to head over to Lake Taupo instead of spending another day in Rotorua. So we hopped into the Spaceship and headed southwest down to Lake Taupo.
Once in town we stopped off at Huka Falls, the amazingly turbulent falls coming out of Lake Taupo along the Waikato river. Huka Falls is the most visited scenic reserve in New Zealand, and we can see why. 200,000 liters of water pass over Huka Falls every SECOND. That’s enough to fill 5 olympic size swimming pools every minute. Huka is the Maori word for foam, which describes the foamy water after it leaves the calm of Lake Taupo, tumbling over the falls.
The current here is so strong that it creates incredible turbulence and a dangerous undertow at the bottom of the falls which has sunk many boats that have gotten too close.
The current also prevents trout and eels from migrating up the river, which means that Lake Taupo is one of the only lakes in NZ with no eels in it.
After Huka Falls, we did a bit of hiking in the area and then stopped by Huka Honey Hive for a bit of honey tasting and some ice cream, before heading into town. We wandered in town a bit and made some decisions on what we’ll do while we are here, then headed on to our home for the night, the Lake Taupo Top Ten Holiday Park, which boasts the largest jumping pillow in New Zealand.
Friday is more hiking and a sunset sailboat cruise to see some Maori rock carvings. Hope you have a great day as well!
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