3-5/2 Taupo

Taupo 176° 04' E, 38° 43' S
Lake Taupo


Instead of going to New Plymouth at the Westcoast, which will mean maybe 5 hours in the bus I prefered a shorter time in the bus, and to go more directly to Auckland. I still have to get used to the idea that I can do whatever I want, as long as I will be in Auckland on February the 8th to meet the group. I have chosen for Taupo because it seemed easy enough to come there by bus and some hostels to choose from and I’ve seen some nice pictures of the lake. But I have made a little mistake. I thought I had booked a bus to leave Palmerston North at 9.55 in the morning (a.m.), but actually it was the bus of 9.55 p.m., so I was 12 hours too early.






Fortunately it was quite easy to change my reservation for the next bus, one hour later. I'm glad because there were just two buses a day. I've enjoyed the bus trip, there is so much to see I just hope I will never get used to all the beauty in the landscape and that I will enjoy everything as much as I do now. I've seen the first real high mountain with snow and a really big lake. Taupo is on the North of this lake. Since I've arrived I just have done some shopping, so afterwards I will have my little picknick along the lake.

My hostel was Burke's Backpackers, a clean and comfortable room, but quite noisy.

On February the 4th I've had a lazy day in Taupo, so no bungy jumping, skydiving, jetboating etc. for me. I've organised my next days, booking a bus to Auckland and a hostel. In a rose garden I’ve read some brochures and my magazines. I've visited the Taupo Museum. I always like the museums with different subjects, so I saw a little shop, a lot of stones, a nice quiet garden and a house of the Maori. And I realized that there is another thing that makes my backpack a lot heavier after my holiday than before. I seem to pick up a lot of nice, beautiful or interesting stones, while I'm abroad ;). But my backpack was 12 kg when I started to travel, and actually this is not as much compared to what I’ve heard of many people I’ve met.

3/2-5/2 Taupo