Day 10 - 12 Taupo and Napier

After the eventful Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Park, we set off for Taupo. The popular holiday destination is famous for its numerous outdoor activities. You can go white-water rafting, bungee jumping, or explore the beautiful nature. Unfortunately, the whole week was very rainy, so we moved on relatively quickly. In Taupo, we originally wanted to do the Tongariro Crossing, where you can climb the famous Mount Doom from The Lord of the Rings. In bad weather conditions, the trail is closed, so we want to come back at the end of our trip and make up for the hike. Despite the constant rain, we were able to take a walk along the Taupo River. The water was so clear, you could see every stone on the bottom of the bed. But the most beautiful place was at the Huka Falls. The radiant bright blue water forms a great contrast to the dark rocks, which are eroded by the massive water power.

To escape the rain a little bit, we then drove to Napier. The famous Art Deco city has the charm of a small town from the roaring twenties. Everywhere you look, you can see quirky souvenirs like mustache combs, pompous hats, or feather-decorated fans. Unfortunately, on this day I had to be a little diligent and continue working on my term paper. But that didn't stop me from going to the pub in the evening with Lara and two other backpackers to have a beer. The next day, after a huge coconut ice cream, we continued on to Wellington. As you can see, we rushed through the North Island a bit to experience as much of the South Island's summer as possible. There it is less mild and a little colder than on the North Island.