Taupo and Self Certified

After project Number 1 on the van (to replace a leaking hot water system) almost completed and only a small leak in one very stubborn blue hose, we set off for Taupo with first night at Marton. Decided to try our hand at using a POP park. No this doesn't mean popping in for a visit or popping over to the neighbours, but rather popping onto someone else's property for the night and giving them a small donation for their generosity. We ended up parked on the gravel beside someone's garage with a big busty, bikini-clad scarecrow to look over us through the night. We were informed by the lovely Pat (landlord) that there was a scarecrow competition on in town.

Tested out the shower this morning with new water heater. How hot would the water be after sitting unheated all night? Notice that Himself took first douche leaving me with a thimble full of hot water methinks??  Eekkk, there was just enough to get the soap suds off.

Through some lovely farm country this morning. The 'once-a-farmer-always-a-farmer' half of our team surprises me today. His usually very smart observational skills are really honed when he comments that a paddock of lambs are 'probably crypts'! Now how on Earth can anyone note that whilst driving along the road at 100kph!! I am usually impressed enough with his ability to identify every crop we have ever seen, wind direction and type of grass in the paddocks… but this takes the cake!!

Gorgeous cafe stop in Taihape, I could have had one of everything they had in the cabinet. The cafe Telephonique  has gained a 5 star rating from me. Decided then and there that if I was to ever be incapacitated so as not be able to speak or feed myself, I am officially stating that I would like to be spoon fed their Oaty (therefore it must be good for me!) Caramel slice until I can eat no more. Must let ever attentive and loving daughter know my last wishes. (this is the same daughter that has already made not-so-secret for us at the local old folks home)

Noted that local New World had a 25 cent per litre fuel discount so decided to purchase much needed supplies (was hoping that no-one in the supermarket would note that in order to spend the obligatory $150 to qualify we bought 13 bottles of wine and a packet of crackers.)

Mt Ruapehu ever illusive 

Onto the Desert Rd and excitement when we realized that Mr Mainlander could get to see Mt Ruapehu for possibly the first time. Took some time to choose best photo spot.. after quite a bit of indecision and discussion around this the mountain had pulled her cloud cloak over and become invisible again! Stopped for lunch in a desolate spot. Howling winds kept us company while we sat in domesticity enjoying lunch.

Got up close and personal with some of the purple flower covering many acres of the vista we were seeing. A type of heather possibly?

Landed in Taupo and found the newly owned NZMCA camp by the airport. Great we thought! Oh no, we discovered, we must be 'Certified Self Contained' (trust me there is a whole new language to be learned) and we hadn't yet ticked that off our list. Pulled out the trusty iPhone and found a local self-containment officer. He was more than happy to see us. Dave crawled round under our van with tape measure and in the next 20 minutes Mrs VW had her vitals checked intimately, it was only her owners that came up short! With paper work now almost settled it was back to the aerodrome park. Feel a bit like a mini at a truck show here. The van next to us could have accommodated us in their dining area!

Campervan Christening

We became the very proud owners of a VW (no not a Combi!) Motorhome on February 29, 2012. It is a 2006 ex Apollo rental that has done 162,000km and is 2.5l Turbo diesel. Is that enough for the technical amongst us I wonder?

 At last, after sitting in our driveway for over 10 days we are off! Over the Rimutakas, well that would be a test of our mighty VW. Decided to have a power site for the first night and we selected the Greytown Camping Ground. It was a pretty campsite and we nestled into the huge Totaras for our first night. The campground owner appeared just in time to help us sort out how to plug into power and get the right switch pointing in the right direction! Tea time and our first attempt at cooking. Found the gas igniter on the stove top wouldn't work. Ooops, no matches. Immediately began a list for the van of permanent necessities! Managed to light the little oven and use the sophisticated method of making a paper taper to transfer the flame! Worked a treat! Had delicious meal.

 Headed off the next day for a small DOC park at the the Pinnacles. Drove into Lake Ferry and looked at the local camping ground. Not for us we decided, we were going bush. Had trouble locating the park on the map so while we had afternoon tea in overlooking Lake Ferry I learnt how to use Google maps to find a place using longitude and latitude. What a clever system! It was a small park with only a couple of very basic toilets. Lots of people coming and going. A group from the Naenae Boxing Academy (Billy Graham) were in camp but further down the campsite so we only had a couple of other campers with us. Crawled around under the van looking to see what went where. Even located the water tank! Found a small leak that kept that seemed to be coming from the water heater. Hmm, better leave that to the Mr Fixit of our team, meanwhile we have more important things to do... It's wine o'clock! Glorious sunset appeared for us.


























The next morning we headed up the creek bed to see the Pinnacles. What an extra-ordinary sight we found! The rock formations were completely unexpected and for the whole time we were up there walking we never saw another soul. Where would you get that anywhere else?

 Wandered back to Mrs VW (yet to be named) and off down the road to visit Martinborough. Had a lovely time looking through some rather creative and interesting shops. Had a lovely stop in a nice cafe (don't tell Justine!) and maybe a cake each, then time to head for home. What a lovely weekend. Lots learnt, lots to learn and some beautiful sights seen.