Seeking Hobbiton - Wellington to Taupo

 Toby, Tessa and I are off on an adventure. It's a three day weekend, so I've padded it out with a day off either side - and we are off to Hobbiton which is most of the way to Auckland.

Toby had pleaded off an early start so I was planning to grab my usual Friday potato cakes before we headed off. But the early morning saw two excited people dressed packed and ready to go. We were off around 8:30am. 

Traffic flowed okay but was really heavy - we were in queues most of the way, usually doing a good 90km/h though. I was surprised at this. I guess there are lots of people going from A to B on a weekday! Lots of roadworks too; just out of Taihape we were stationary at a top/go for a good 20 minutes. Just too many cars to make stop/go work very well.

1pm saw us at Hydro Cafe in Turangi, straight through with just a couple of fuel and comfort stops. We were all very happy with our lunches. Then on to Taupo and the impressively named Grandeur Spa Resort. A strange place but lovely and comfortable. I have so many questions. A large, imposing conference centre with bar/restaurant - closed up and unused. A swimming pool and Tokaanau style spa pool taking water from the hot spring stream at the back of the property. Some very old cottages and an ancient, tiny church that would fit maybe 10 people speak to a huge history to the site. A massive warehouse with a huge load-out canopy that would suit freight dispatch for 10 semitrailers. And, a collection of cute little townhouse style chalets from the 1980s or so, where we were staying. 

I think there have been a series of failed ventures on this site. Everything is run down and crumbling, though our chalet is clean, tidy and with a flash new looking kitchen and bathroom. The resort's official website still speaks of the ambition of the place; high dining, well stocked bar, the perfect venue for your event or offsite meeting. Alas it is not to be.

The location is amazing though. We headed off the site to explore, armed with a vague idea that Huka Falls was close. 

We tried a 'shortcut' through Owen Delany Park next to the site - but this proved fruitless and we wandered for ages before emerging back about 100m from where we started. Then we followed a walking track to an amazing spa area, Otumuheke Stream hot pools. Nicely built up and full of families swimming in the clear Waikato waters and soaking in the hot Otumuheke Stream as it flowed into the Waikato. There was a cafe in a container with a very friendly helpful couple selling coffee and icecream who provided us with sunscreen (oops), pointed us in the right direction for Huka Falls and gave us pointers for the things to do around here. 

Otumuheke Stream hot pools

It was hot, and jeans were not the best clothing choice. But we soldiered on, walking down the bank of the Waikato. The water is amazing! So much water, and so clear and unsullied. Reasonably fast flowing. You could see the riverbed so clearly. Huka Lodge on the other side of the river spoke to the sort of accommodation you could have if money was no object.

Water so clear

Toby spent the walk planning on how he could successfully navigate the river in his Warehouse inflatable raft (recommended max weight: 40kg) and avoid shooting into the Huka Falls channel. Plenty of friends with slack-ropes to throw at him. Plenty of contingency when they inevitably failed. Finally how he would navigate the falls themselves when all else failed.

Huka Falls. Descent in blow up raft not recommended.
 

Looking back at Otumuheke Stream hot pools

We were back at our wee chalet by 5pm, after a bit of a recharge we headed into town and found the Taupo Steakhouse. No Paroa Pub adventures for us tonight! Service was perfect and our steaks were done to perfection. Really, really good. Definitely coming back here, though maybe not with Angela since there was just one line on the menu - "vegetarian dish - ask" - for her.

After dinner we strolled along the waterfront and then back to the substantial park. But there were too many pesky children playing on the swings, so we headed back to our chalet so that Toby and Tessa could explore the park close by instead.

Taupo has so many great looking eateries, and its waterfront is beautiful. It really feels like a place you could often visit in its own right. I've only ever been here for an event like the cycle race or the 100km team walk, or as I was passing through. I may have to remedy that in future.