Awoken by an emoji-filled “Happy Birthday” text from Andy and a yummy flat white from Frank; and ending with nice long chats with Nick and Jenny, a wonderful dinner and a stunning Lake Taupo sunset, I could not have had a nicer birthday! The weather was picture perfect — 70 degrees, not a cloud in the sky. Frank and I spent the day at a magical place, the Orakei Korako Cave and Thermal Park.
It was a short 40-minute drive from Taupo. We took the ferry across Lake Ohakuri and did a 2-hour hike around the park. The rainbow of colors, the geysers and the steam from thousands of hot springs reminded me a little of Yellowstone but with caves and much different foliage (i.e. palm trees).
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- You take the ferry across Lake Ohakuri. The water is very warm.
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- The wooden walkway crosses the Emerald Terrace where mineral-based golds and oranges mix with whites and browns in a rainbow of colours.
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- Ruatapa Cave
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- The water was boiling.
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- I can still hear the mud bubbling up – so cool!
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- We had noticed large pipes along the highways and discovered that New Zealanders use the steam to create electricity!
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- We had dinner at a lovely Lake Taupo cafe called Victoria’s.
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- I usually don’t post pics of food unless it’s a food post but it was soooo good.
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- Desserts were fantastic. No birthday cake for me though — I’m on this pannacotta kick!
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- Another beautiful Lake Taupo sunset,
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- you can never see too many of these.
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- It looks like a front may be moving in but we will see what tomorrow brings. Cheers!
Waltzing Wanderers 