January 25, Blue Spring

North Island, New Zealand

Slow Sunday morning in Taupō — brunch by the lake, a lively market, and some truly creative local art. Then a rainy drive to Blue Spring (Te Waihou Walkway), where crystal-clear water surfaces after spending 50–100 years underground.

Walked the peaceful four-mile path beside the spring, grabbed a classic meat pie and sausage roll for lunch, admired corrugated metal animal buildings in a small town, and ended the day packing up for our flight south. A calm, reflective goodbye to the North Island.Read more