Taupo

Taupo and its surroundings.

We started the day with the Aratiatia Dam, which opens 4 times a day during summer to release water into the rapids below. It looks nice and lasts for 15 minutes.

After the 10 AM opening, we had booked a scenic cruise to the Huka Falls. It can really be best admired from the ship. Along the way, there is a lot of information shared about the landscape and history. The waterfalls were at about 40% of their capacity that day, according to the captain. The flow is regulated based on electricity demand.

The geothermal power plant is the second oldest in the world and provides about 3% of the North Island's electricity needs. The steam-emitting thing seen in the next picture is located at an inflow that is said to be still over 75 degrees Celsius at the mouth.

After the return trip, we moved on to the fun part: the jet boat ride on the Aratiatia rapids. This is the only provider that does jumps and wild water activities. It was great. For photos and videos, I refer you to Julia's blog.

For relaxation, we then took a walk through the Craters of the Moon. However, it's not really worth it.

Taupo offers a beautiful and newly made promenade that invites you to linger with its many restaurants. It is just very windy. If you like McDonald's, you will find the most beautiful branch in the world here. The food can be enjoyed in a real airplane. Somehow, the day was over again...