37. Taupo: Huka Falls – Aratiatia Rapids

Sunday, March 17: fine, warm, variable cloud

Tramping: 27.8 km

Donna’s

The alarm hadn’t been turned off so I was awake at 6:30, but was able to snooze for an hour or so. The next challenge was breakfast, managed to get everything together except for the toaster, so had a fried muffin instead of a toasted one.

Then a couple of slices of bread were prepared as sandwiches for the walk today, and with all the equipment on board (except for the PLB) I set off for the Aratiatia Rapids. Bit of a walk along the street to begin with, then through the Spa Thermal Park where a disc golf tournament was just beginning and then to the river where there is a freebie hot stream complete with café, toilets and changing rooms. The river has quite a strong current and I thought it might be a nice idea to float down the river a bit, if only for the falls.

Well, the falls and all of the tourists were next on the program, and soon after that all the tourists were gone. There was one view from the top that I hadn’t seen before so I took a photo of that as well.

The Red Bridge was the next landmark, after that the shade thinned out quite a bit and the track became quite hot. I arrived at the car park at 11:45 and decided to make a run for the noon release. There was enough room at the middle lookout and was able to get a landscape excerpt of the falls, and everything was set right, except for not turning on continuous shooting – have to see what the difference is.

Slide Show

I allowed the sequence to run until 12:40, although the water hadn’t quite returned to empty. Then it was time for the sandwiches. Had to find a place to sit, and there was no picnic area in sight, so I wandered around the shore for a bit until I found somewhere in the shade to sit. But there was a lot of rubbish lying around, and the lake is pretty algified so it was not all that inviting.

Made my way back to the upper lookout this time and had enough time to set up continuous shooting and use the pol filter as well. I put the tripod beyond the fence and was able to select a view in landscape and get the whole scene. There were fewer people there was well, and they were soon gone. From there it was interesting to see just how long the water took until the lower levels were reached. Again the sequence ran until 2:40 when it was time to pack up & head for home.

On the way back ran into two Italian women who were too late for the 4:00 release but they wanted to continue anyway. Passed one woman whose pace was very slow. At the Red Bridge I switched sides and took the bicycle path until the falls. Was back here just after 5:00, and Donna had also arrived back.

Interactive Map

It was Chicken Tikka day this evening and the Indian place I eventually chose was Master of India, 47 Ruapheu St, and had a time (again) convincing the waitress that the six-piece “starter” portion with a small bowl of rice and pickles ($18.4) was going to be enough. But it was. There was a group of German journeymen who were complaining about Hannover in one corner of the room. Had a hokey-pokey at the dairy opposite and then set off for some beer (very early closing times on Sundays).

Back here Donna offered me her bike if I wanted to go to Acacia Bay tomorrow. I need an organising day tomorrow, since it is not yet clear where I’ll be staying in Rotorua and how to get up to Paihia. If the weather is not so good tomorrow then it wouldn’t be worth getting a car for the day. Might float the car idea for Rotorua instead because if I can stay for four days I might get a car for two days instead of one.