Lake Taupo

After our exhausting 20km hike and 2287m mountain climb, we drove on to Lake Taupo for a good nights rest.

Lake Taupo was created after a cataclysmic volcanic eruption 1800 years ago. Hot ash and pumice rock ejected by the eruption covered 20,000km2 (12,400sq miles) of the North Island and the skies as far as China and Rome were affected! Natural drainage subsquently filled the huge crater thus creating New Zealands largest lake -Lake Taupo.

We were surprised with how large this lake was as we were driving past it for at least 30 minutes before we reached the town. This is maybe because it is New Zealands largest lake which we already knew, but it's not until you see it for yourself you appreciate its size. The lake looked very nice as the sun was just setting and there was a grass verge running along side the lake that looked like an amazing picnic location. However as we were tired from our day of walking we just wanted to get to the hostel.

Another interesting fact for you is that it's Australasia's largest freshwater lake. At 616 square km, Lake Taupo is as big as Singapore Island!

We only spent one night here, we got up expecting to see the Lake but both felt it was just a lake and as its so large we thought its not as if we can walk around it so we decided to drive onto our next destination which was Rotorua.