Taupo Lake Taupo, Huka Falls and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing

2 days 280 km driven 21.6 km walked 525 photos taken

Auckland Rotorua Coromandel Peninsula Mount Maunganui Taupo & Huka Falls Tongariro National Park After spending a lot of time on the road and venturing to a new city each day, I decided to slow down a tad and spend two nights in the Lake Taupo area. Taupo is a small and scenic resort town with a great mix of natural attractions, outdoor activities and town centre happenings. I drove an hour from Rotorua to Taupo and checked into my hotel in the afternoon. I was pleased to learn that the hotel had a complimentary bike and was situated right along the Great Lake Walkway, so I took a ride around.

The Reef Resort Motel 219 Lake Terrace, Waipahihi, Taupo USD $415 per night 2 nights They only had one unit left and it was their luxury 3 bedroom apartment. It was the best lodging I had the whole trip, by far. Private garage, laundry, full kitchen, friendly staff, great view and it came with a bike.

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The Brantry After a long day of activities and some time in the hot tub I researched local restaurants within walking distance and found The Brantry. They seemed packed given this was still summer high season in a resort town but were able to accomodate me. The Brantry 45 Rifle Range Rd, Taupo USD $59 dinner 3 courses One of the best meals I had in New Zealand. I enjoyed a nice sunset walk to the restaurant where I was eager to start the meal with a refreshing sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir. Grilled halloumi Greek yoghurt, stuffed green olives with feta and lemon, honey comb

Eye fillet of beef Roasted beetroot, red onion and walnut salsa, baby spinach, truffle mascarpone

Raspberry and vanilla brulee Fruit and nut biscotti, berry compote

Grilled Halloumi — Greek yoghurt, stuffed green olives with feta and lemon, honey comb Eye fillet of beef — Roasted beetroot, red onion and walnut salsa, baby spinach, truffle mascarpone Eye fillet of beef — Roasted beetroot, red onion and walnut salsa, baby spinach, truffle mascarpone Raspberry and vanilla brulee — Fruit and nut biscotti, berry compote

After a fantastic meal I began the ~35 minute walk back to my lodging, but not before stopping by the waterfront for a bit to try to capture some nightscape shots. I didn't expect much with these shots as I was right in the town so there was still a lot of light pollution. When I got back to the apartment I made sure to take advantage of the in-unit laundry that evening after having previously washed my clothes in hotel sinks the last few days. When I woke up I did a bit of googling and found a nearby cafe called Storehouse. I drove there to grab a bite and fuel up — it had been quite a while since my last good coffee. Storehouse 14 Runanga St, Taupo USD $16 Late breakfast All-around great cafe. Tasty food, unique space and quality single origin coffees.

Yes, I like to caffeinate. I started with a cappuccino then opted to try one of their single origin drip coffees. Then I devoured the best breakfast burrito (scrambled eggs, bacon, guacamole, chipotle, sour cream and spicy mexican beans in a spinach wrap) I have ever come across in my life. I liked it so much I came back the next day to get it.

Breakfast burrito — Scrambled eggs, bacon, guacamole, chipotle, sour cream and spciy mexican beans in a spinach wrap.

Then I began the 93km drive to Tongariro National Park. It took just shy of an hour and a half to get there, especially with the last leg of the drive being on a gravel road, but there was a nice scenic stop on the way.

Tongariro National Park Okay, I'll admit it. I did not plan this hike well. I had heard about and wanted to hike the outstandingly scenic 19.4km Tongariro Alpine Crossing inside the Tongariro National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). However, I didn't organize a way to get back to my car if I was to complete the entire 8 hour trek. It also turned out that the drive to the park from Taupo was further than I had originally thought and I got a late start on the day... so yeah, I was not going to be hiking in the dark and left without a way to get a long ride back to my car. Lesson learned: when traveling by the seat of your pants there are still a few things you should probably plan a bit more carefully. It reminds me of a saying I've heard around other travelers: "solo traveling is just endless problem solving." That being said I did have all the required gear for a safe hike by myself — snacks, water, sunscreen, hiking boots with thick socks, sunglasses and a two-way satellite location beacon and messenger for emergencies. Needless to say, I decided to only complete a shorter 2.5-3 hour roundtrip hike from Mangatepopo Valley to Soda Springs.

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Despite not making it to the Blue Lake and Emerald Lakes inside Mount Tongariro's central crater, I thoroughly enjoyed the beauty of this trail. It was the first real hike I had done so far in my New Zealand trip. I then returned to my car — which had been baking in direct summer sun — and drove back to Taupo as night fell. Feeling a bit famished at this point, I went to Plateau restaurant in central Taupo for a steak. Huka Falls In the morning I started the day with a river cruise at nearby Huka Falls before starting the long drive to my next destination, Wellington. Huka Falls is said to be New Zealand's most visited natural attraction.