Saturday, 18 February 2012

New Zealand - The North Island - Part 3

Next stop was the Wai-O-Tapu Geothermal 'Wonderland'. Again I'd love to explain but you can look at the pictures and read more here... http://www.waiotapu.co.nz/





At 10:15am the Lady Geyser erupts...



On Thursday morning we went to the DeBretts Spa Resort in Taupo and enjoyed our own naturally heated 38 degree spa...


We then headed up to the 'Craters of the Moon' for more geothermal areas...



We then headed over to see the Huka Falls. They are the largest falls on the Waikato River and the most visited natural attraction in New Zealand. The Waikato river is one of New Zealand's longest rivers and it drains Lake Taupo, the largest freshwater lake in all of Australasia...


We moved down river to the Aratiatia Dam. At 10am, 12pm and 2pm everyday the water is released...


The dam gates open to allow a surge of water to pass down at a rate of up to 90,000 litres per second. After 30mins, the spill gates are closed and the water recedes, leaving behind a dry riverbed...


On this Friday lunchtime we were lucky enough to watch a helicopter filming the rapids in 3D for a certain film due out at the end of the year... think New Zealand... think Middle Earth... ---> THE HOBBIT!!!



We then drove across the North Island to Waitomo and on Saturday visited the Ruakuri Caves...





Then we visited the Glow Worm Caves (http://www.waitomo.com/waitomo-glowworm-caves.aspx) and went on a boat ride in the dark caves, the ceilings all lit up with glow worms...


In the afternoon we headed back into Auckland. We visited the Auckland Museum...


Which includes many Maori artefacts as well as a whole floor devoted to natural history and another floor for the war museum and memorials...


Lastly we visited Auckland Town Hall before heading back to the Harbour to sit in the sun with a nice cold Stein lager...


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