@ Joe M: Thanks and yes, we had a great time. One of the best holidays so far.
@ 9thsphinx: Thanks a lot. Its one wonderful country.
I think if Jetstar starts operating hits hub form Delhi, as they are planning and if the NZD value comes down to 40, the two way rates would come to 40 K and then it would be an awesome country to travel to. Though NZ itself is expensive, it's a breath-taking destination.
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Some more pictures form the lay-bys and parks of Lake Taupo.
After Lake Taupo, its beauty of another kind, here goes the story.
We reach Turangi, famous for its trout fishing possibilities, many to there just to fish. Since our love for fish is limited to admiring it and on occasions swimming with them during the diving, we moved on.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turangi
After Turangi, about 20 kms, you would start noticing mountains on the right, the roads start climbing through Tongariro NP,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tongariro_National_Park
Road at 800 mtrs above MSL, you see Mt. Tongariro, Mt.Neaurohoe and Mt. Ruapehu with ice caps on your right, surprising to see snow at such low altitudes of about 1000 – 1500 mtrs! Our snow lines up north start around 3000 and the roads to reach up there tough. The desert roads as per our standards were still green and further down you can see some sand on the sides, farming disappears so so does habitation, this was desolate land.
Around 2 PM, another 100 kms down, we reach the fork for Fielding, Palmestron on SH54, the GPS wanted us to take that, we turned into the twisting road, Palmestron and then the restricted area around Linton Army Camp and join SH1 near Levin. We stopped to stretch on a fuel station, pick up provisions, found the flavored milk very good, available all over, quite wholesome if you feel hungry.
The location of the place was great, on a lonely section on the road with a view to all that’s around for a long distance, we had lots of time, only another 100 odd kms to do to reach Wellington, the day still young.
Found this place below, creative indeed, a restaurant! Wonder why somebody does not get a condemned Jet Plane and start a restaurant inside it in India. If you do start, please give royalty to me for the idea.
It was 4 PM when we left the fuel stop, stopped on and off all the way and soon hit Paikakariki, the road hugs the mountains on one side and sea on the other, you get the spray from the left. Traffic density slowly picks up, all roads seem to lead to Wellington, rural turning to urban. The motor way starts about, I think, 40 kms before Wellington, it’s a 6 lane dual carriage way, still traffic nowhere near what we have. As you go hear the city, the land shrinks, houses cluster together, houses start to gain height, by the time you reach the core of the city, things are pretty congested. An orderly, shirinky kind of congestion after the wide open spaces.
This biker on his Honda tourer with a baby trailer was riding with incredible discipline, was an event to watch, following every signal, speed limit and signalling cut to cut, even showing hands!! Was so good followed him for 10 Kms before I overtook in him and sped away, old habits die hard
5 PM, The GPS takes us near Hotel Abel Tasman, no parking anywhere near the hotel. We circle back on the thick traffic twice trying to locate another access again come back in front of the hotel. Call the hotel, they explain a complicated process to park, I park right in front on the taxi stand and go in and take written down instruction, by this time, the taxi guys are irritated, not no horns blared and abuses hurled. I say sorry to the lady taxi driver, she smiles and waves her hand! Now I go round the block, through by-lanes, down to the closed iron gate into a narrow lane, press the button to go down to park. The covered parking is tricky, costs 20$ a night but we manage to slot it in. Up to the room in 4th floor. The hotel is NOT value for money, small kitchen, street noises floating in, but located a walk away form the waterfront. Space is a problem in Wellngton, anyway ours is a one night affair there and wanted to be near to the Interislander ferry for the next days long drive to South Island.
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