holiday 2012 part two.....

Hannah the tour guide took us to places of interest in Taupo, we went to opening of the dam gates which was pretty cool the pond below went through stages of calm to an absolute massive volume of water powering into it was real interesting for the kids to see the power of water!! we also went on a board walk through the mainly   untouched  thermal world at craters of the moon, a steaming bubbling natural environment which again we loved . We went to the volcanic centre, a huge honey shop and also a lovely glass blowing factory. The afternoon was spent swimming at the local pools....Dinner of homemade pizza and off to bed after watching a couple of good movies.
From Taupo we traveled down to the west coast of the North Island, through the desert rd and Waiouru, we stopped off and looked through the army museum then travelled a little further and had lunch looking out at Mt Reuapehu .....barron country side and roads through this part of the country. We stopped for the night at Himatangi beach camp ground explored the rugged beach and then moved on the next day to Otaki beach and had another beach day and relaxing in the camper....then off to wellington via the Kapiti coast.Parked up in a campervan park right in the middle of the city... we did lots in the city, went to Tepapa, up the cable car, through the Botanical gardens, had a tour through Parliament,had dinner on the waterfront and off to bed for another early start on the ferry. The crossing was smooth again and the kids enjoyed the trip they liked being up on deck looking about.

Back to Picton where the weather was closing in and we saw our first lot of rain all holidays so decided to bolt for home....we stopped for a cuppa with Deana again and a bite to eat...picked up Johns girls in CHCH and got home after 7pm....long day but nice to get home....All in all we had a great time, great weather, and a holiday we will remember for a long time...