Wellington to Taupo

It was a long drive from Wellington to Taupo (375 Kilometers).  We drove Highway 1 which intially lies between Cook Straight and the Akatarawa and Tararua Mountains.  This region is luscious green and supports grazing, as well as, crops.  As we reached the interior of the island, we entered a semi-arid stretch that ran for perhaps 75 kilometers and included a large military maneuver area which reminded Dwayne of the time he spent with the US Army in the deserts of New Mexico.  Further north extinct volcanos doted the landscape.  Our lodging for the night was a backpacker hostel which overlook Lake Taupo which fills what was once a volcanic crater.  We also noticed a significant increase in the number of Maori people the farther north we headed.  They are Polynesians who came to New Zealand nearly 800 years ago.  Most of the Maori live in the northern section of the north island.   We are anxious to learn more about these native inhabitants of New Zealand.

Mount Tauhara - Dormant Volcano (3,569 Feet Elevation)