Flying Foxes at Mount Doom!

From Napier we drove over to Lake Taupo where we were met by hundreds of people on bikes and road closures. It was Ironman 09, a major NZ Triathlon. A bit of a worry but the information centre found us a great little motel just by the lake with a dairy (they mean corner shop!), a takeaway and a restaurant next door. Fab.


This is the lovely lake - the largest lake in NZ and waves made with the wind and lots of ships and birds.


This place just north of the town is called "Craters of the Moon" - and it does what it says on the label. It will take a long time for the wow factor of geothermal landscapes to fail on us. It was even great to walk around in the rain.


Here we are at Aratiatia Dam. Not only do the geothermals heat lots of the water, combined with the dam they provide hydro electric power too. The water is calm in the reservoir dammed between 2 parts of the river. Then 3 or 4 times a day the sluice gates open and the water rushes through for half an hour or so.


The first picture shows the gates shut and very low levels of water - then in the second picture it comes rushing through.


If you look carefully at the first picture, you can see the dark line showing how far up the water rises.


The next day we headed south from Lake Taupo into volcano central. The picture above is of the fancy hotel built for the skiers and tourists in 1929. It is such a contrast to the scenery!


Here we are at Mount Ruapehu - or for those in the know Mount Doom! As we drove higher the clouds came down lower, it got darker and very cold (and I was only wearing shorts!). We had a tea and cake stop to boost our energy first and then set off along the Lord of the Rings Walk. The views were amazing and seeing snow on the peak in summer is still exciting. What made it even more spooky was the fact that the volcano erupts every 15 to 20 years and last went off in 1995!!

It was very exciting, but (luckily) it didn't erupt!

The highlight of this area however had to be the "Flying Foxes". Not named after us we are afraid, but too good an opportunity to bypass.

These pictures are of the lovely gentle countryside in the area - so different from the volcanic scenery so near by.

We found Mokai Canyon where adventure awaited us. We went into the reception / cafe area and paid our money. We then had a 15 minute steep (and exhausting!) walk to the top of the canyon in the rain.

At the top we were dressed in the very sexy outfits shown above! Then, clipped together, we were lowered to the floor.


This is the view of the canyon we had as were lying horizontally looking down. The button was pressed and......wheeeeeee.....


This is what we would have looked like from the viewing platform for those too scared to do it - and these 2 fliers were lucky enough to have done it in the sunshine!


And here we are - Flying Foxes on the Flying Fox in the rain! We travelled 1 km down the canyon head first at 160 km p h! Fantastic. If I lived there I would probably go every month and put myself in debt. Not so sure if Gordon would come too though!
We have the DVD of the entire 8 minute event which is where Gordon snipped these 2 photos from. At the end of the kilometer, you travel back and forwards for a while then you are clunked onto an independent unit which pushes you back up to the top to collect your belongings. A most exciting thing to do and not at all scary - and no we will never do a bungy jump!

After another night at Lake Taupo we are heading to Rotorua again - more to follow later.