Volcano Island

New Zealanders love rugby, racing, sailing and wine. (horse racing)  This island nation is obsessed with renewable energy sources relying on solar, wind and especially geothermal. 

Many fault lines cut through the ground's surface in New Zealand.  It covers many ancient volcanos which makes its terrain full of hills and dales, gulches, gullies and gorges and mountains and molehills.  The  photograph above was taken from our boat on Lake Taupo, a large crater lake of over 230 square miles.

Huka Falls was one of our stops today with its bewitching turquoise color.


Our guide, Greg, is a former restaurant owner and chef.  He entertained us with his clever sense of New Zealand humor.


Before driving to Mission Bay Winery for dinner, we dropped our bags at the Masonic Hotel in Napier, NZ.  Napier was leveled and its coastline markedly altered by an earthquake in 1931.  The city was rebuilt in the 1930s Art Deco style.  


Napier was considered one of the most modern cities in the world upon its re-build.  We were here during art deco weekend which featured classic cars and attire from that era.

The chorus from I Lived by One Republic;

I, I did it allI, I did it allI owned every second that this world could giveI saw so many placesThe things that I didYeah with every broken boneI swear I lived
 



Comments

  1. Bill & DebraMarch 22, 2025 at 5:19 AM

    We chuckled when we read your post. There was a special passenger on our ferry from the North Island to the South Island of NZ, an unhappy race horse. We could hear and feel him on the deck below and feared that he might break loose and trample our car. As we love the art deco style buildings in Cincy, CMC, Carew Tower ... it was fascinating to visit Napier. It was like being on a movie set.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kris T.March 26, 2025 at 8:34 AM

    I'm certain the wine is delish there!!! How"s the shopping?? Anything in particular they are known for to buy??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Randy and Ruth AnnMarch 27, 2025 at 3:17 PM

      Wine is good. Since we were on an overland tour, our schedule was full of adventure without much shopping. I bought a new leather hat from the chap who makes the hats. There were lots of wool products like gloves, scarves, etc.

      Delete
  3. plattsflyingdogsMarch 26, 2025 at 1:02 PM

    I LOVE mom’s outfit in this post!! What adventures you are having!

    ReplyDelete

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