Lake Taupo

After a long and really enjoyable drive in the trusty fiesta rental we got to lake Taupo in pretty much the centre of the North Island.

It provided one of the wierdest sights of the trip because the edge of the lake is an outlet for some hot springs, while behind you can see the snow topped mountains. Even though it's a pretty popular tourist destination it was almost deserted when we went so it made for a good full-day. Apart from a crazy woman in a kanoe we hardly saw anyone at all. The water at the edge was really hot, but deeper was much colder.

The lake is ringed by some really amazing houses, where you could literally open your back door and step out into the lake.