For some of us the dark evenings and cold frosty mornings of winter still conjure thoughts of mince pies, log fires and Christmas. Given the number of immigrants from the northern hemisphere in New Zealand, it is hardly surprising that at this time of the year midwinter feasts abound, and that Auckland’s Graduate Choir, (of which daughter Lucy is a member) recently presented a programme entitled Mid –winter Christmas Recital. This was made all the more authentic by being sung in a chapel modelled on that of many a private school in the UK, and sung on a particularly cold and draughty evening. Well worth listening to, and the CD will be out later in the year. From the sublime to........., well, their next date is to sing the national anthems at All Blacks/ Australia match.
Isobel and Spike have been reading about snow and longing to experience it. The North Island of NZ has two possibilities; the Tongariro National Park, just 3 to 4 hours from here, and Mount Taranaki, (Mt.Egmont) a bit further south. The rest of North Island barely knows what snow is.
So off we set on a glorious clear and cold Sunday morning, stopping at Taupo town for coffee and arriving at Tokaanu on the southern shores of Lake Taupo to stay in the Tokaanu Lodge Motel for a couple of nights. Monday saw us in the local ski hire shop, togging up the children in snow boots, goggles and mitts before we drove up from the steaming thermal springs to the snow clad Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe mountains. Barely able to move for all the layers of clothing, Isobel was pretty much in awe, taking refuge in icicle lollies.
She soon abandoned the uncertainty of tobogganing for such delights, whilst Spike whizzed down the kiddies’ slopes a few more times... and so did mum and dad. Grandpa needed a few more navigational lessons and grandma, well....!
We seemed to be the only ones who had even considered bringing a picnic, which we stoically ate little lower down the mountain outside theChateau Tongariro, (how British!) before indulging in a classic snowball fight.
Like most hostelries in the area, the Tokaanu Lodge has its own thermal pools. This time it was grandma who had proved the most adventurous in the hot pool, enthusiastically joined by Isobel and Spike, and only once it had been tested out, then by mum and grandpa as well. (photos censored!)
Lake Taupo was looking at its splendid best on Tuesday. We enjoyed the beach, throwing pumice rocks to float in the waters, looked at perfect backdrop of the snow-clad mountains, as we took coffee in lake side restaurant, then headed off to Rotorua. We stopped on the way to wonder at the boiling mud pools, then treated the children to swings, slides and train rides on the edge of Lake Rotorua.
Back home in Hamilton, the temperature was still below zero at night, but Wednesday was a winter warmer, so it had to be spent on the beach at Raglan
Whilst Iso established her creative corner with sand, shells and grasses,
Spike ventured as far as he dared along the beach, making tracks with his boots as he went.
And so, to use the forbidden cliche, they all returned home, tired, but happy. The End