Day 13: Lake Taupo and Huka Falls

We are currently staying at the (not so) Grandeur Thermal Spa Resort. It might once have been grand, and associated with a thermal spa, but no longer, sadly. However it is located a short walk from the Thermal Spa Park, which is a car park and again has no locatable spa. But is the start of a walk to the Huka Falls, further down the Waikato River which flows out of Lake Taupo.

There is actually a small spot on the walk that is supposed to be the thermal bit, but it was not particularly hot when we got back to it at the end of our walk. More just luke warm.

The trip to Huka Falls is about 4kms from our accommodation and the return journey took just over two hours all up, there and back again, including the brief dip in the 'thermal spa'.

It started raining on the final leg of the journey and we arrived back at our accommodation a bit damp, so it was hot chocolate all round.

Once we had all warmed up and got into warmer clothes, we drove into the town centre, for a bit more of a look-see at the Lake (very choppy, because of the wind that had come along behind the rain) and find somewhere for lunch out of the cold. Then we took a wander around to visit some of the local op shops, where I discovered a Neighbours Christmas Carol record! Who would have thought....Read more