After our last attempt to skydive in the morning was rejected by the rain, we opted to have a mellow morning on the Lake Taupo. We took the Earnest Kemp Steam Boat to see the Maori stone carvings. It was a very cold and rainy day. I was so focused on staying warm that I forgot to get sea…er…lake-sick. The inside of the boat was very small and crammed full of people also forced to enjoy the boat ride due to the rain.
Steamboating
The skipper was a very entertaining gentleman and told us many anecdotes of the lake and the surrounding area. Because the lake is so clean, there is very little aquatic life in the water. What fish does live in the water are exceptionally delicious. So reasonably, I asked the skipper which restaurant we could visit to sample the local fish. I was told commercial fishing in the lake had been banned for decades. However, I could catch my own fish and get someone to cook for me. At the end of the ride, I learned that the boat was just an aesthetic replica of a steamboat, and the carvings were made in the modern days by some Maori brothers. I couldn’t help but felt a little cheated…
Whakapapa Tongariro National Park
After the lake, we drove on to the Whakapapa Tongariro National Park. The original plan was to hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, which is a World Heritage Site and one of the most herald hiking trails in the world. The whole hike would have taken 8 hours to complete. Unfortunately, the pouring rain followed us from the lake and shut down the whole mountain. Honestly, I wasn’t too keen on hiking for a full day, but Sam was so looking forward to this hike and was very sad we couldn’t do it. It had been two days of cancellations and dreary weather, we both felt a little down :(.
We checked into our Skotel. It was my first time staying at an old-school ski lodge that was literally stuck in the 80’s. The entire place was finished with wood paneling, complete with red carpeting and even a shelf full of VHS in the lounge. Sam had booked us a room in the Backpacker’s Wing, which reminded me very much of an overnight train compartment with bunk beds and a tiny sink. It would have been a “cool” experience, but thanks to the leak in the roof we got upgraded to the hotel side. Yay for the private bathroom! The coolest part was the balcony overlooking the wilderness, the mountains, and the creek. Even with the rain and the fog, it was incredibly beautiful in an austere and lonely way.
Even though we couldn’t go on the Tongariro trail, we decided to take a quick hike near the Skotel before dark. The rain had stopped, but a thick fog enveloped everything. It was like wandering through a dreamscape, every few feet revealed another scenery that wasn’t visible before. We followed the little creek next to the hotel upstream into the woods, where it turned into a tiny rapid from the rain. We only had time to explore the forest a little bit before we had to turn around.
For dinner that day, we had picked up some canned soups and ciders from the market:
- NZ Country Chicken Soup = No Good
- Habanero Chili (Dynamite Chili) = Excellent but very spicy
- NZ Ciders = Amazing in all flavors
Even though the day held some disappointments, it was a much needed slow day and we saw some different views. I’d call that a success in my book. We were definitely ready for some sunny days though!
Cheers,
C.