It was pretty much straight through from Rotorua to Taupo, and not too long at all. The drives are really green and have rolling hills all around and hundreds and hundreds of sheep. Just before the town of Taupo there is a stop to go and see the Huka Falls. I had heard that these falls were pretty nice and I had wanted to go and see them so I was happy when the bus said they were going there before we made it into Taupo. I got out of the bus and went over to the viewing platform to see the falls. As I approached the bridge you hear the litres and litres of water rushing and I thought for sure they would be impressive falls. Upon reaching the bridge I gotta say, I was disappointed. It wasn't really falls at all. It was just a very rapid river with a lot a lot of water rushing through it. I gotta say that I was really expecting it to be a lot more falls like. Aw well it was still impressive as a a river though and it is always nice to get off the bus and stretch.

After a quick look at the Huka falls we headed into Taupo. Taupo is home to the largest lake in NZ and is a very popular destination for skydiving. Before any of you get your hopes up that I am going to say I checked that off my list, don't. I didn't go skydiving. If I can afford it on the way back up through Taupo then I will then. This time around I was looking for cheap cheap cheap. Something cheap to do. Kate, the driver, said there was a fella named David that would take us sailing out on Lake Taupo to see some Maori rock carvings for $40. Sold! We arrived at about 2 or 2:30 I think and the sailing trip was leaving at 4pm. So I checked into my hostel, got things settled, changed my clothes and then went on a bit of a walk about around Taupo. The town is very friendly and small and nestled at the base of an extinct volcano and right on the water. The lake itself has beautiful mountains on one side and impressive cliffs and rocks on other sides. It actually reminds me a lot of Kelowna but smaller. It was a clear, warm perfect day to be in Taupo. I wandered down along the water to the dock where the sail boat would pick us up.

At 4pm our captain David pulled up with his sail boat fearless. It wasn't big, but just the right size for a nice sail about Lake Taupo. We motored up to the rock carvings because we were loosing daylight and it takes about an hour to get there, the sailing came later. The houses along the lake were most impressive! They were huge mansions with glass fronts and gorgeous patios and things. David told us that most of those homes were only used 3-4 weeks out of the year because they were just vacation homes! I wish had the money to have a lavish vacation home on Lake Taupo! We came up to the rock carvings and they were pretty cool. The largest one is huge on a piece of rock facing the lake. David then told us a story about how the fellas who did it had just got back from Amsterdam and brought back 'treat bags' when they came. They would go down to that bay, get ripped and carve away. They never thought it would become an attraction and now they are pissed that they never capitalized on the tourism. Haha, suckers! The bay they are in is only accessible by boat or swimming so it was easy for a company to start touring over there. After the carvings we went out into the lake a bit and threw up the sails and set the course for home. The sun was starting to set and it was just a beautiful place to be! Dave stalled the boat for us so we could watch the sunset. It was my first real sunset that I have seen in NZ, and it was very very nice. It was just such a beautiful picture, us on a small sailing yacht the sun setting behind the mountains on Lake Taupo. I am glad that I got to experience that before I die.

Of course we couldn't stay out in the lake forever so he did have to motor us part of the way back to shore because the later it got the colder it got on the water. The last part of the trip was just as beautiful as the sunset. Gliding gently through Lake Taupo under the clear starry skies! Definitely forty bucks well spent! I went from the dock to a pub called Mulligans in town. It was recommended to us by our driver because it had a cheap backpacker meal that comes with a drink. Then for any other drinks you want you can play rock paper scissors with the bartender and if you win you get a dollar off your drink. Dave, the captain also said it was a good place to go for some pub grub. So I went to have a bite to eat before heading back to the hostel for the night. Well while I was eating my burger and writing to Marcus and Jackson Dave the captain came in (he had said he was going there after he tied the boat up) and invited me to join him at the bar. There was hardly anyone in there at the time so it was nice to have someone to yarn with. So we got to chatting and drinking and before I knew it, it was 11pm and I had to get up at 6 for our departure to the Waitomo caves! Not to mention I was feeling pretty good after a few pints of beer! So I decided to head home and get some sleep before I had to endure the twisting roads to the caves. Dave told me that when I come back through Taupo I would be welcome to stay at his house (which has other people and rooms, don't get any ideas) and he would take me out on the boat again. I think I will take him up on that! He also txted through to our driver Kate and got her to give me his number for when I come through. I really do love Taupo, it is a great and wonderful little town and I am going to try to make it back for a couple of days.

I am going to leave it here for now, and in the next one I will tell you about my Waitomo Caves experience and National Park.