More Turangi - Day 6

Fathers Day - Sunday Spetember 2nd.

We decided last night that today we would go for a bit of a tourist tiki tour as we may not be back here again. We left the house at 1000am and took a lovely drive down to Waiouru via the Desert Road with the might amazing Mount Ruapehu, it was very overcast and drizzly and the cloud was very low, we thought well we wont get to see the mighty mountains and it certainly looked that way the closer we got to Waiouru. However as luck would have it the cloud slowly started to lift we took some photos from the Desert Road side of the mountain jsut incase we didn't get anymore. We drove onto Waiouru and Brian wanted to go on down to his old navy haunt Irirangi, the old building is still there however it is no longer a radio communications building, it now is some kind of stock feed place. We took some nice photos of some sheep and the mountains and then headed back via Waiouru and onto Ohakune via the National Park. Ohuakune is now thriving winter ski resort, we stopped here for a coffee and comfort stop and took some photos. Driving on we were amazed at the greeness of the countryside and the beautiful snow capped mountains. We continued onto the Chateau at Mount Tongariro, the scenery was just amazing clear clear blue sky we could not get it any better. Another coffee to be had at the Chateau and some photos for remembrance. It was so clear we could easily see the chair lifts up on the mountain. We drove back to Turangi via the scenic route, and booked to go out for dinner for Father's Day - Happy Father's Day Brian and my (wonderful darling Dad Angus Small - RIP). Brian and I went out for dinner at the "Lakehouse Restaurant at the head of Lake Taupo , past the Tokanau thermal pools - no hot pools tonight though. The food service and presentation was superb we would definately go back there again if we ever are back that way. We arrived back home as full as a tick.

Still Turangi - Day 5

Saturday September 1st:

We had a nice sleep in today which was just lovely as it was really chilly and foggy - however NO frost. Had breakfast and watched a bit of TV. Brian decided to go down to the river while I did the chores, I actually cleaned the slider door windows as the folk before us must have had kids and there were hand marks all over them and it was driving me made having to look at the mess. I decided to write some postcards to the grandkids and a couple of others to work LEP and Fort Knox Storage. Brian rang to she he would be back in about an hour. We did nothing today just stayed around the house and in the arvo went out and did a bit of shopping and later in the day to the hot pools for a soak - simply heaven.

Turangi - Day 4

Friday August 31st.

After a good nights sleep we woke to NO frost yippee.I went down to the river with Brian this morning and took some great photos. We came home and made a cuppa got showered and changed and decided to drive through to Taupo. We needed to go to Telecom as there was a problem with our NZ mobile - we were advised their system had changed and that - that model would no longer work!!!!!! good on ya Telelcom.We had a lovely lunch and coffee and then went for a walk through the main CBD of Taupo and took some photos. We then decided to head on and have a look at the mighty "Huka Falls" the power of the was is just amazing. We frove back to Turangi it was lovely and sunny however the wind was very chilly. Arriving back to the house we made a cuppa and spent the remainder of the day inside out of the chilly wind. See my coffee that the barrista did for me - how cool is that - good onya NZ

Turangi day 3

Thursday 30th August 2012:

We had a dreadful night sleep, both wide awake at 0300am, so got up and made a cuppa and went back to bed, I read for a while and finally must have fallen asleep and woke with Brian waking me to say he was off fishing, I got up to see him off and re locked the door and went back to bed until 0900am. Got up and showered, did washing, made the bed and had breakfast, before arranging my digital scrapbooking folders. Brian rang to say he had landed 1 fish a Jack and let it go again and lost another (typical fisherman's story hehehe) he said he will ring when he is on the way back - should be around lunchtime. We lazed around this arvo and then went back to the hot pools for a soak before tea. It can get very busy and crowded later in the day and early evenings due to the skiers coming off the mountain.

Below photo's are of the most beautiful daffodils that were being grown and cultivated in a property next door to the Police Holiday Home where we were staying - I have never ever seen a pure white one until this very day - they were stunning and a wonderful sight. 

Tongariro Trout Centre - Turangi

Wednesday August 29th  - 2012

On Thursday we made the short drive over to donate 2 fly rods, 1 of which belonged to my dear darling dad and also one of Brian's and fishing vest that Brian purchased when we were on holiday in the Snowy River a number of years ago, we had decided to donate these items for the kids fishing at the centre. The fellow Brian had been in email contact with was in a meeting so we left the rods and vest and our contact email. He emailed Brian back and asked could the donations be used for the kids however for use in photos of the kids dressing up in fishing gear for their parents to take photos - this was fine with us and we will go back there to see him and have a look around. Below are a few photos I took of some of the surrounding bush and area - oh and the fisherman himself. It was a beautiful day.

Happy Birthday to our eldest nephew  - James Vallance Happy 21st Birthday to you James.

Turangi and surrounds - Day 1

Tuesday August 28th:

Once settled into the house at Turangi we went out and about. Brian made a couple of trips to the river so far no luck fish for eating, I did go with him one morning so that I could get some photos for him. We have been to Tokanau mineral pools and these are great,there is also a thermal trip you can do which shows hot mud pool and a pool of boiling hot water, you will also see the trout in the stream outside of the thermal area.We took a trip over the range on the way back to take some photos of the mountains and Mt Tongaririo was easily visable still steaming away from the 3wk ago eruption. The bottom two photos show a morning of frost - brrrrr.  Hope you like the photos will add more later - bye

Auckland - Rotorua

Tuesday August 28th - 2012

After a great night sleep we woke at 0830 to a clear and sunny morning all be it rather chilly. The day had arrived for us to take flight #2 to Rotorua, we had to be out of the hotel by 1000am and again as we had large bags we decided to get up and head straight off to the airport with the complimentary shuttle transfer. Arriving at the airport at 1000am we were able to check in again straight away and pay excess for those fishing rods for the final time, it was great to get rid of the luggage. We had rather a long wait for our flight to Rotorua as it did not depart until 1240pm, we went and got oursleves a nice cuppa and just spent time relaxing and waiting for boarding time. The flight was finally called and we boarded our rather small Beech aircraft (20 passengers + 2 crew) the flight time was only 35mins and flew at 12,000ft. It is a twin prop aircraft with 10 seats down each side of the aircraft. We arrived into Rotorua with just a hint of the usual sulphur smell that you associate with Rotorua. We were met by Rudi the guy from Pegasus Rental Car and after the formalities were over and a toilet stop we headed off south toward Turangi where we are to stay for 7nights at one of the police houses.

Aug-Sept NZ Trip 2012

Departure -  Monday August 27th - 2012

The day had finally arrived for our departure to Auckland from Brisbane, we left home at FKS - Little Mountain on Monday 27th Aug around 0915am as we had to be at Brisbane Airport at 1030am and knowing the Bruce H/Way the way we do for smashes and hold up's decided to head away in plenty of time to avoid any of the above. Once arrived the car was parked and all luggage loaded onto a trolly and we headed to the airport, not expecting to check in straight away so found the Air NZ counter open for just that to grea relief to get rid of the luggage as we have 2 large bags and Brian's tube of fishing rods that we had to pay excess for however these are to be donated to the National Trout Centre at Turangi therefore they won't be returning with us. Once checked in we headed off and got ourselves a coffee and filled out the departure documents ready for immigration and the boarding of the aircraft. Time had come for us to depart and it was great to actually be flying on a large aircraft - we travelled on an Air NZ 777 which was great, very comfortable and arrived into Auckland in just under 3hrs. We managed to get through customs and immigration at Auckland with no drama's and no lost luggage and made our way outside to wait for the shuttle to take us to our overnight accomodation at the Formule1 hotel. The room was small however clean and had all we needed, we did have to change rooms as the blind in the room would not stay down, I went and advised them at reception and it was no problem for them to change us - good service. Once we had got organised we went next door to a great restaurant for dinner, it was great very tasty well priced and great service. From there we headed back to our room and showered and got into bed and watched some tv, will catch up tomorrow when we leave Auckland and head toward Rotorua. Night all.