Trout fishing on Lake Taupo

7 April 2014

Further up the Waikato River are the Huka Falls. They aren’t very high but the river narrows significantly before the actual falls and the volume and pressure of water flowing over is enormous. They create a barrier beyond which the eels and trout cannot swim.

Kate treated us to  NZ style Lake Taupo trout fishing…….purists will squirm!!! Lures and downriggers are used to reach the fish which are approx. 35 metres deep.

We had a wonderful day out with Marty, our guide……..boating 7, losing 1 and keeping 4 beauties with each of us catching 2......woweee. 

Check these meneers..........what a haul

We cooked one that night following Marty’s favourite recipe. Delicious. We gave one away to some ex-pat South Africans who were delighted. Interestingly, trout may not be sold in NZ as part of the conservation policy. We have since then smoked one on the boat……also delicious and have one more in the freezer! 

Loads of lemon pepper seasoning, brown sugar or honey in the belly cavity, wrapped in tinfoil and 45 min in the oven at 160, turned once halfway.

Looking across the town and the lake towards the skiing mountains

Jetboats and Thermal Parks

5 April 2014

After Rotorua we headed for the mighty Waikato River where we took a  Hamilton jetboat ride.

The "Boss" and the "Beast" are waiting

A bit nervous about this.........

The scenery changed dramatically along the course of the river as we headed towards Orakei Korako Thermal Park.

A Maori leader is buried in this cave

 Orakei Korako is arguably the best thermal area in NZ.

On the way back, we were “treated” to a whole bunch of Hamilton Jetboat specialities ……….360 degree spins……..wet, wild and exhilarating.  

Rotorua, Blue Lake and Buried Village,

  4 April 2014

Blue Lake ......view from our Holiday Park.

View overlooking Lake Tarawera to volcano, Mt Tarawera

Painting of the White Terraces at Te Wairoa, where, pre 1886, tourists flocked to bathe in the warm pools

Photograph of the same terraces before the eruption of Mt Tarawera 8km away

An 1886 photo of Moura Village after the eruption, buried in mud

A whare in Te Wairoa buried in mud

Te Wairoa as it is today, partially excavated

A reconstructed whare/Maori home as it was in 1886

The excavated wheat storage facility

The walk to the falls is through lush forest

The beautiful Te Wairoa Falls below the Buried Village

Next we are on our way to Rotorua and its Museum which was once the world's first "water cure" clinic, treating injured soldiers after WW1

The Rotorua Museum

The gardener's cottage with manicured flower beds

Black swan on Lake Rotorua

Rachel-Spring and below......a bit of our own water therapy