March 16th. Right after breakfast, we check out and headed straight to Lake Rotorua. It was beautiful with a group of ducks looking for breakfast, certainly a serene sight to enjoy. Peacefulness. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Serenity. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Quack, quack. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) After a short drive we were at the lookout point of two lakes, unique for their colours. Info board & common sense reminder!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Green Lake. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Why Green. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Blue Lake. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Why Blue. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Fresh & Lovely ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) One for nature. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) After enjoying the Blue and Green lake, we arrived at the Buried Village. According to our host there is nothing to see because it was already buried so we decided to save and give it a past. Here it is!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) A long telephone booth. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) A typical British post box. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) When we pass by Lake Rotorua on our way to our next destination, families were out to enjoy the freshness of the lake. It must be cold!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Next stop was The Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest Welcome committee. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Hello!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Nice to meet you. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Into the forest we go!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Yes, no turning back!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Hmmm ….. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Tree huggers!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) How tall huh? ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) This tall. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) I’ll climb it to confirm!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) After all the excitement about the Redwood trees, we stop by at Benny Bee to buy honey in comb which we couldn’t get in Wellington. Benny Bee – cater mainly to locals. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Honey in comb. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Yummie!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) After having our honey comb feed, we continued on our way and experienced our first cow crossing. There is like hundreds if not thousands of Friesian cows crossing the road from the pastures to the milking station to be milked. It would had been a great experience for us if we had the opportunity to see how the cows were milked but that thought was not with us at that time …. I guess it was just the excitement of seeing so many cows at a time …. WOW!!! A moo-moo crossing. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Friesian moos…. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Moo-moo train!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) When we were getting close to Taupo we came across a gathering of Ducati Bikes by the Ducati Owners Club of New Zealand in Wairakei Resort. There were so many of them in on display in the open and it would be ashamed to give it a miss. When we stopped to get a closer look at the bikes, I was like kind of a in a different world of mine own. Where is that guy? ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Can I have this? ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Dream on baby!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Vroom, vroom!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) I want this!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Vintage beauty. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) All in pristine condition. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) I like this. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Latest models. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) They cost a bomb!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) The rider & owner is a lady. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) After all the excitement of the Ducati bikes, we stopped by Huka Honey Hive which cater more for tourist. Huka Honey Hive. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Where is the queen? ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Here try some liqueur & wine honey. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Hehehe …I want more!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) A naughty Mazda. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Next stop is Huka Falls The Huka Falls. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) It’s down there. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) There it is. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) The water is so clean!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Where is the Jet boat? ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) There it is…oops!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) The beautiful ice blue water. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) A brief description. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Further downstream is where you can take a ride in the jet boat, Hukafalls Jet. The propulsion system. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) The boarding area. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) The jet boat. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) They are off!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) To the falls … yahoo!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Another place that we wanted to visit around this area is Huka Prawn Park where Shawn the Prawn lives. I guess we were late and the prawns had already started their exercising so it was closed. We were too late … sigh. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) So we proceed on to check into our motel, took a short break and went for dinner. This time we knew exactly where we want to eat Crooked Door Inn which was highly recommended by a very reliable source. Here we are. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Nice and cosy. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Shall we start? ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Yum-yum, my favourite. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Lamb shank. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Beef & Mushroom Hot Pot. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Grilled Scallops and Chorizo ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) That was a yummy dinner in a real nice and cosy place. After a full fun filled day, it was time to head back to the motel and call it day. March 17th Right after breakfast we check out of the motel and hit the road back to Dannevirke using a different route from where we came from. The motel we stayed in. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) At the office checking out. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Ready to go? ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Next stop is Taupo Bungy, a extreme sports the very brave or crazy. Nope it is not for me. Eee…scary!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Not this either!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Can you see the person? ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Jumping station. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Weeee!!! Off they go. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) There they are. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) After all the craziness we went back to Taupo to do some souvenir shopping. Souvenir shop. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) I got a bargain!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) I’m done, let’s go!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) We were soon on our way towards Rangipo Desert. It was raining. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) The Rangipo Desert. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) The rain stopped. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Our next stop is the National Army Museum in Waiouru along the desert road. War Machine. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) This mine? ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Story of the war machines. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) A new discovery for me. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Thanks mate. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) War horse. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) An unpleasant story. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Iron horse. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) That was the last stop for us before we arrived back in Dannevirke. Beautiful sight. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) My new found friend was waiting for us when we arrived back at the bed and breakfast place. Charles the cat. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) After a short break at the bed & breakfast, we headed to our host place for more chit chat and dinner. Cheese!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Never seen such huge hydrangeas ever. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) One for the album. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) March 18th. It was a slow day, our host was busy and we were left on our own. We decided to take it easy and explore this little town. The main street …treacherous cloud!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) My Missus favourite place, 30mins. free internet. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Red shop with red car. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Down come the rain!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Having a hot cup of coffee. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) When we got to our host place in the late afternoon, her neighbour gave us a container full of raspberry for us to enjoy from his own shrub. Yum!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) This is the way to enjoy it!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Preparing dinner. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Yummy fried fish. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) March 19th Today is a special day, we get to spent time with all the family members of our host and it was wonderful. The temperature was exceptionally cold too. Starting a fire. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Nice and warm. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Roast chicken … yum!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Happiness. :-D ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) After dinner entertainment. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Sharing a joke ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Very at home!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Relaxing…. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Enjoying a wonderful moment. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Another round of entertainment. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) I started this fire….. ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Enjoying the warmth…. Nice!!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) Next back to Auckland.
WOW so many intersting photographs!! What a lot of dust those cattle stirred up - such a large herd. I loved the motorbikes and would have found it hard to tear myself away from the. What lovely tranquil scenery at Lake Rotorua - beautiful. Those redwoods were enormous and walking in the forest must have been a good way to spend your time. The bungy jumping scares me and I'd never even think of attempting it. The only thing that is puzzling me is - what kind of exercisinbg do prawns do? Maybe push ups or squats, skipping or running on the spot. Have a good trip back to Auckland. :-D
You two may not take many vacations but when you do you pack all the adventure and beauty into it that you can. Thanks for taking us along on your trip, the photos have been great and I LOVE the humorous captions you add to them.
Thanks Eileen, I have no idea what kind of exercise the prawns do because we were not allowed in. Thank you Donna S, I'm enjoying it all over again posting all those photos. :-D Thanks Jerry, keeping our finger crossed that we can make it to United States and Europe soon. :-D Thanks Toni, glad you enjoy them.
Wow great pics. You and the misses looked like you enjoyed your time. Thanks for sharing I live vicariously through my Stewbies that don't live in america and those who post there trip pictures. I've never really gotten to travel. I loved the rapid waters. So inviting. And you were right that was a huge hydranga oh my! Haha Glad to see you had a wonderful time
You should become a professional vacation planner! You have picked out some beautiful and fun places to visit. Can't wait to see some more.
Thank you Mrs. Galeassi and I'm glad you are enjoying it. You should travel at least once and being in a different place in person is so much different from just looking at pictures. Nope Cherylad I cannot be a professional vacation planner, a professional vacationer maybe!!! We just go wherever we can and just enjoy it. Glad you are enjoying the trip with us. :-D
