In Taupo now !

After a train to Palmerston North , a trip to the hospital to check all was well (and it apparently was) then a bus to Taurangi We resumed cycling from there. We cycled the 50k to Taupo yesterday and it didnt feel too bad.

But first we headed to the Thermal Hot pools at Tokaanu

From New Zealand Cycle tour

From New Zealand Cycle tour

From New Zealand Cycle tour

From New Zealand Cycle tour

As we headed along the road we got treated to views of the three volcanos in Tongariro national park at the end of lake taupo

From New Zealand Cycle tour

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[Kid jumping into thermal rock pools]

From New Zealand Cycle tour

Here a thermal stream meets the Waikato river giving toasty warm pools of over 40 degrees! The perfect way to relax after some riding.

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[Jayne riding her bike off road]

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[and again]

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[And Jayne riding her bike off THE road!]

After spontaniously deciding to do some mountain biking to Huka Falls, it all went a bit pear shaped when jaynes shoulder bag swung off while riding and dragged her with it. The result was Jayne and her bike lying in a heap halfway down the verge....Mum and Dad don't worry, I'm fine. Just a few scrapes and a lot of jokes from Terry!

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[Us after reaching Huka Falls.... all limbs still intact. We saw the falls in the sun this time (we were here just under a year ago in a hire car in the rain.....it wasn't as nice)]

Nelson to Wellington

Sorry for lack of updates , been a bit under the weather . Feeling better now though after some rest in wellington

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[friendly ducks in picton ....its not a trick that duck only has one leg and it hops everywhere!!]

From New Zealand Cycle tour

Ferry to wellington through the sounds

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[coming into wellington]

From New Zealand Cycle tour

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[dolphin skeleton at Te papa museum]

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[pigmy whale skeleton ...about 25 metres long]

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[closest we have seen to an actual kiwi]

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[a stuffed tuatara ...they live to over 200 years old]

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[the britten homebuilt in NZ daytona winning motor bike]

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[wellington cable car]

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[playing with the settings on the camera....a flower in the botanical gardens]

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[going down the cable car]

Off to get a train to palmerston north tomorrow , missing out about 160k section of mad road. Its very very windy and very very busy ....and not to mention motorway so we are not allowed to ride it anyway. heading up over dessert road to taupo after we get on the road again.

Abel Tasman Kayaking

From New Zealand Cycle tour

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[fishermans island]

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[lots of posh boats about]

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[Rocky shoreline]

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[warm water]

From New Zealand Cycle tour

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[snorkling]

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[sunset anchorage]

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[early morning paddle]

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[rocky beach]

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[fish right at shore line]

From New Zealand Cycle tour

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[they had a fleet of these old tractors for transporting the boats. They transport you up the slip way and right to the kayaking center in the boat and your about 50meters in land before you actually get off the boat ! ]

Westport to murchiston

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[Lower Buller gorge]

From New Zealand Cycle tour

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[Huge Dragonfly]

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[Upper Buller Gorge]

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[Nzs longests "swingbridge" (read suspension bridge)]

From New Zealand Cycle tour

[Again the whole bridge though]

off kayaking in Abel Tesman on wednesday and thursday which should be fun.

New Map......

Now in Westport