Taupo

Another weather extreme chased us from Napier to Taupo.  100 plus km/hr winds up our tail pipe.   By the time we reached Taupo, over 150 trees were knocked over across roads  in the local area and the town's power was down.  As a result it was a couple of days before things were back to normal and we ventured out to Tarunga National park,  the home of the north Islands biggest and most vicious volcano.  A french style chateau to escape too cold blustery day.  Strange building to emerge form the fog in New Zealand.

 

The clouds were  still the order of the day,  with only one of the three peaks visible.

On the way back to Taupo, we spotted this, what appeared to be mist coming form the rain forest.  but no,  thermal springs.  Half way up a hill.  The North Island seems to be one big volcano floor.  

Lake Taupo is the largest of the New Zealand lakes,  being about the size of Singapore Island.  Singapore, approaching 6 million inhabitants.  New Zealand, 4 million inhabitants.