A nostalgic return to Taupo

My original plan following on from being with Maura and Ian was to get the train straight to Auckland .
However ,20yrs ago Matthew and I went on the Kiwi experience bus ,to Taupo. We skydived at dawn and half an hour later were whisked away from Taupo. I remember the stunning lake and feeling I'd have liked to stay longer.
Checking the Map and the buses I realised that I could return to Taupo on a 5hr bus journey..which I was delighted about ..However, I only booked the ticket yesterday evening, after speaking to the Intercity bus company ,checking Ian's views on doing so and the all important weather...all of paramount importance as I have an international flight in Auckland booked and paid for, so can't afford to be stuck.Whilst Wellington to Auckland is a straight line,Taupo is a definite diversion ,in the "wrong " direction." Anyway a favourable outcome meant that Maura dropped me off for the Intercity bus at 9.55am and a few minutes before I got on the bus ,I arranged some accommodation in Taupo,with a lake View...This has always been a dream ...to return to taupo and have accommodation with a lake Taupo view
Journey was OK..crossed a section known as the desert road ...it was a bit like crossing the top of Saddleworth Moor or the top of the Yorkshire moors ..bleak !
The bus drivers here do seriously long distances ...and so the stops are for a comfort break, loo 🚻 etc and also an hour stop for lunch. Also the driver tells you which cafe so you can pre order food online and the cafe has it ready ..Ive experienced this a few times in NZ
Then in the middle of nowhere, the driver pulled up ,swapped with another driver who continued with my journey, whilst the 1st driver took over the bus going back to Wellington.
Arrived in Taupo and went to the visitor centre where the lady behind the counter was from Rochdale! Shed not been back to the UK for 18yrs but was going imminently. She's looking forward to a proper chippy with mushy peas .also looking forward to radiators and double glazing which are not a thing in new Zealand. In fact maura told me they only heat the room they are in and they had a log burner in the lounge but no heat in the bedrooms. Anyway it was lovely to chat with this lady and was also quite funny to hear what she was looking forward to
I got a taxi to my accommodation which is an upstairs apartment In a motel with the lake View I've thought about over the years.. fantastic
In the evening I went to the pub at the frimt of the motel,called Jolly Good people .They have a British flag flying outside and the serviettes have picture of Winston Churchill ..no idea why .
The locals were watching the rugby in such a civilised way ..I couldn't believe it not like a British pub when the football is on
At the motel , I had a few issues with charging my phone as my charging adapter doesn't fit the plug but the lady on reception helped. She is Indian and came here 8yrs ago after she got married..
My day ended with the really sad news that the 1st orangutan I saw when I arrived in Borneo, had died
She was 24yrs old, a large and beautiful orangutan ,sitting on the feeding platform as we arrived full of excitement and anticipation at seeing an orangutan, suddenly ,there she was ...it was v special moment. She became unwell whilst we were at the project and was taken off the island she lived on,to be monitored by the vets.She recovered enough to be returned to the island..
The technicians and all the staff know the orangutans sooo well and vice versa. They are extremely well monitored and cared for. There's a vet clinic on site..so she would have had the best chance...if it' was possible.
I had chance on a few occasions to chat with the vet who was on charge over all the animals at the project i was at ...a sad ending to the day.
Lovely to know il have 2days in Taupo and even if i do nothing but look at the gigantic lake that's fine .However I'm interested in scoping the potential for being based here for a longer stay in futureRead more