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Best of New Zealand |
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| Levin to Taupo |
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Heading north on Highway 1 and pausing at Levin which has a population of
around 20,000 and is the largest town in the Horowhenua District -
PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow |
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Some 130 km beyond Levin is Taihape, a small town serving a rural
community - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow |
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The Taihape Motel boasts SKY television but
Tranz Rail demolished the town's historic railway station in 1999 -
PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow |
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Taihape promotes itself as the world's gumboot
capital and an annual gumboot throwing contest is held each year in March
- PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow |
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Again the main street generally reflects the
typical British colonial style buildings of the early to mid 20th Century -
PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow |
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The Town Clock and War Memorial (left);
the post office (right) built in 1937 does not reflect the
traditional style of buildings along the main street - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow |
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Unfortunately time precluded a visit to the
New Zealand Army Museum at Waiouru - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow |
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Heading over the Rangipo Desert on Highway 1
which may be closed in Winter. In November 2014 there was
still a scattering of snow on the higher ground - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow |
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Mount Ngauruhoe, an active volcano rising to
2291 metres - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow |
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The town of Taupo looking towards Lake Taupo
and a very special McDonald's - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow |
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McDonald's Douglas DC3 which was acquired by
McDonalds along with the site that previously belonged to the somewhat
incongruous Aeroplane Car Company - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow
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Lake Taupo and Mounts Ngauruhoe and
Tongariro viewed from across the lake - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow
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The Helistar Flight Centre owns the Hub Cafe
with its Russian Mil 8 helicopter - arguably of more interest than the
nearby Huka Falls - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow |
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The powerful Huka Falls on the Waikato River
which is New Zealand's longest - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow |
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The
Craters of the Moon Geothermal Walk
not far from Taupo - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow |
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The
Craters of the Moon were created in the 1950s by the lowering of
underground water pressure after the building of a nearby geothermal power
station which caused superheated water to rise and vent off through the
ground - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow |
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It
takes about 45 minutes to walk round the circuit past various steam vents - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow
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If
less than spectacular, the Craters of the Moon nevertheless are part of
the largest geothermal field in New Zealand - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow
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The nearby geothermal power station - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow
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Certainly the dramatic display of escaping
steam rivalled the Craters of the Moon - PHOTOs Malcolm McCrow |
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