The Kayaking Kids, Rotorua to Taupo
- Feb 12, 2016
- 3 min read
While at Rotorua I sent out a host request for the Lake Taupo area to a couple that the cyclists from Germany Tim and Anna had used. I didn’t have a reply so I found a campsite that I would plan to reach. I also sent out a request for a host in the south of Taupo as I would be heading that way the following day. A reply came back from the 2nd request saying that I could stay but there was a cyclist called Richard from the UK going to be there that night and that I would have to share the lawn space.
I left Rotorua later than I normally would after doing some grocery shopping then taking a wrong turn that cost me an extra 15 minutes.
Once on the correct road I put in a decent pace for 30 minutes then decided to stop for a drink of water. I looked back up the hill that I had just come down and could see the silhouette of another cyclist appearing over the brow. I waited as I always enjoy a chat with a fellow traveller. The rider pulled up and I started chatting. Where are you heading I asked? The guy replied in a cornish accent that he was heading to Lake Taupo. Is your name Richard I asked? Yes he replied while looking slightly shocked and impressed with my guessing skills. How do you know that? I answered, we are staying with the same host in two nights and as your English I thought there would be a chance you would be my fellow guest. Where are you staying tonight? I queried. With a couple in Lake Taupo called Trevor and Rose he replied. No way I said, I sent them a request but didn’t get a reply. I checked my messages and it showed that it had been sent but I decided to send it again via my phone instead of my pad. Richard and I then set off to Taupo together with the agreement that I would see if the hosts would take me in if I turned up with him. Only a few minutes later I heard the familiar sound of a received email. Bonus, Trevor and Rose had come back with a confirmation that I could stay.
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When we arrived we sorted our rooms out, showered and joined the hosts for dinner. Richards story is that he set out from the U.K 10 months ago and had cycled through Europe, Asia and into New Zealand. He was heading south before going to Australia to cycle from Perth to Sydney (across the Nulaboor desert) then flying to LA to cycle across the USA to finish his around the world trip in New York.
I had told Richard of my plans to spend two nights in Taupo then cycle the Timber Trail, the forgotten highway and then to get a bus from New Plymouth down to Wellington then to catch the ferry and do some riding on the south island. I asked Trevor and Rose if I could stay two nights so that I could see some of the sights of Taupo and they agreed. They asked what I would like to do and I showed them a brochure with kayaking to the Maori carvings in it. No problem they said, you can use our kayak and do the 4 mile lake crossing. I said to Richard, why don’t you think about staying and then do the kayaking, trail, highway and ride the south together. He pondered for a while and agreed. The next morning we got the kayaks out and made it down to the lake. The water was clear even off shore at 3 metres deep. The surface was very calm which was perfect conditions to cover the 4 miles across. The Maori rock carvings are an epic 10 metres high, are hidden from sight around the side of Lake Taupo, and are only accessible by water. It took 90 minutes to reach them and I’m certainly going to be feeling it in the shoulders over the next few days but it was worth it.
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On my trips I have seen and done amazing things and this is up there with the best of them. An inspired day made partly possible because of the generosity of our Warmshower hosts.
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