Taupō to Blue Lake: Aratiatia Rapids, Woodland Walks & A New Zealand Family Road Trip
Our final morning in Taupō had arrived.
And, just as we'd been getting used to the sunshine and blue skies, we woke to another frosty morning, although this time the sky was overcast. It definitely confirmed that we'd picked the right day for our sailing adventure with Sail Barbary https://www.sailbarbary.com. Yesterday had been bright, still and perfect for being out on Lake Taupō.
Today looked much more like winter. But there was still plenty more to see.
One last spa bath…
Before we did anything else, I had one final soak in the spa bath at our chalet. Well… Why not? I was on holiday!
After that it was time to feed the boys, finish packing, load the car and check out of the Grandeur Thermal Spa Resort https://grandeurresort.co.nz
We'd had a brilliant couple of days around Taupō, and although we'd packed a lot into them, I could easily have stayed longer. There always seems to be another lake, walk, waterfall, thermal pool or adventure waiting around the corner in New Zealand.
A Cuppa And A Catch-Up
Before leaving Taupō completely, we needed to head into town to pick up a few bits and have another little wander along the waterfront. I'd also promised that we'd pop in to see some family friends, Lynn and Keith, while we were in the area. They hadn't seen the boys for around eight years, so it was lovely to take them along for a catch-up.
We sat down for a cuppa and had a good old chat.
It was one of those simple travel moments that doesn't necessarily make it onto the itinerary but becomes part of the memories of a trip. Of course, the boys eventually started getting restless.
They'd had enough sitting around talking. Luckily, Keith had a suggestion.
He recommended another free natural attraction on our route back towards Rotorua:
Aratiatia Rapids
And it came with a little bit of timing required.
Aratiatia Rapids, Timing Is Everything
The Aratiatia Rapids are created when the gates of the Aratiatia Dam are opened, releasing water into the gorge below. The dam opening happens only at specific times each day, with a siren sounding before the gates open. We therefore had a deadline.
And, because it’s me, I initially went to the wrong viewing area.
Thankfully, we made it just in time. We parked up and headed towards the bridge, which is only a couple of minutes' walk from the car park.
And then we heard it. The sound of the water beginning to surge through the gorge.
It was one of those natural experiences that is difficult to properly describe until you've stood there.
The water suddenly begins rushing through the gorge, transforming the landscape in front of you.
The sound was incredible. You could hear and feel the power of the water as it surged through.
The boys were fascinated. And so was I.
We watched from the bridge, which gave us a great view even though we hadn't made it to the viewing point Keith had originally recommended.
So apparently, I need to go back, which gives me the perfect excuse to take Craig next time.
A free attraction worth adding to your itinerary
If you're visiting the Taupō area, I'd definitely recommend adding Aratiatia Rapids to your itinerary.
It's free, there's free parking, and you don't need to spend hours there to experience it. The key thing is simply checking the dam release times before you go and making sure you arrive with enough time to get to a viewing point. If you have more time, you can also incorporate a walk into your visit. And there's another option too.
I noticed that riverboat tours operate from the other side of the car park, so you could potentially combine the rapids with a boat trip if you wanted to make more of the visit.
It's another great example of something we've found repeatedly on this trip: You don't always need to spend money to have an amazing experience.
Sometimes nature provides the attraction.
A little taste of The Hobbit
The location may also look familiar to fans of The Hobbit films. The Aratiatia Rapids area was used as a filming location, which adds another little layer of interest to the visit.
Although, to be honest, standing there watching the water surge through the gorge was enough of a spectacle for us.
Once the excitement was over, we were back in the car and heading towards Rotorua. But we weren't going straight there. We had another stop planned.
Back to Blue Lake
I'd decided that we were going to stay somewhere I hadn't stayed for around 25 years. It was somewhere I'd camped when I was travelling in a van all those years ago, and despite having driven past it several times on more recent visits to New Zealand, I'd never got around to staying there again. So this seemed like the perfect opportunity.
We were heading to:Blue Lake TOP 10 Holiday Park https://www.top10.co.nz/holiday-parks/rotorua/blue-lake-top-10-.
As soon as we pulled into the park, I remembered why I'd wanted to return. The location is beautiful.
Set right beside Blue Lake, surrounded by trees and with the lake views all around, it felt like a proper escape. And even though we were travelling out of season, there were still a few people around.
Blue Lake TOP 10 Holiday Park
I'd booked us a two-bedroom lake-view cabin for the night. It wasn't somewhere I'd chosen because it had loads of facilities or entertainment. In fact, it's relatively simple compared with some of the larger holiday parks. There isn't a big swimming pool or huge resort-style setup. There is a hot tub, children's play areas and the usual holiday-park facilities, but for me the real attraction is the location.
The lake. The views. The woodland. The feeling of being surrounded by nature. Friends who stay there during the summer months have told me that the lake is fantastic for swimming too. And I could definitely see why. Even in the last weeks of winter, standing beside it made me want to get in.
“Mum, can we stay in one of those?”
We hadn't even been there five minutes when Albs spotted something else. The safari-style glamping tents. “Mum, can we stay in those?”
“Maybe next time.”
Apparently, one night in a lake-view cabin wasn't enough. He wanted the glamping experience too.
And, actually, I think that would be a brilliant reason to return. The park has certainly developed since I last stayed there in my van all those years ago, but it definitely hasn't lost its appeal. If anything, the location is even more special now.
A walk before dark
Once we'd unpacked our food and supplies, we had one job left. Get outside before it got dark. We headed down towards the lake and then into the woods to the right-hand side. And this is one of my favourite things to do with the boys.
Obviously, the beach is number one for me. That's a given. But woodland walks are probably a close second. There is something about being in the woods together that encourages exploration.
When the boys were little, I'd turn every walk into some sort of scavenger hunt or nature trail.
Find this leaf. Spot that bird. Look for tracks. Find something unusual. Try to work out what something was.
As they've got older, particularly with Archie now 14, they aren't always quite as enthusiastic about my nature trails. But they still humour me sometimes.
And every now and again, I can still get them interested in something we've found.
That's good enough for me.
Swing parks and a missed hot tub opportunity
On the way back to the cabin, we stopped at several of the swing parks. Because apparently you're never too old for a decent swing.
Eventually, we made it back and I suggested booking the hot tub. Both boys declined. Both of them. Really? So I can't go on my own?!
Looking back, I probably should have just booked it anyway. One of those holiday decisions I regretted slightly afterwards!
A simple family dinner
Back at the cabin, it was time to get dinner on.
Archie helped me with the cooking, which was lovely.
We kept it simple.
A homemade beef spaghetti bolognese, with rice for me because of my gluten-free diet, followed by a bit of time sitting around chatting. Nothing fancy and nothing planned. Just us, in a cabin beside a lake in New Zealand. Sometimes, those are the moments I remember most.
After several busy days, it was nice to slow down.
We talked about the trip so far, what we'd enjoyed and, inevitably, what we were going to do next.
So… luges or Shweeb?
I’d given the boys a choice for our next adventure.
They could choose the Rotorua luge and Skyline gondola or we could head to Velocity Valley and try Shweeb racing.
I'll admit I was secretly hoping they'd choose the luges. I love the idea of heading up in the gondola and then racing back down the mountain.
But the boys had other ideas. They chose Shweeb.
Of course they did. So that was the next adventure decided.
And, actually, this is something I've learnt travelling with kids, especially as they get older. You can have an itinerary. You can have places you really want to see. You can have your own favourites.
But sometimes the best thing you can do is let them choose. After all, this isn't just my adventure. It's theirs too.
Another day in Aotearoa
So another day in this incredibly beautiful country came to an end. We'd started with frost and a spa bath, caught up with old friends, watched a river gorge transform before our eyes, travelled back towards Rotorua and returned to somewhere I hadn't visited for around 25 years.
Then we finished the day with a woodland walk, swings, homemade dinner and a little family planning session for the next adventure. No huge attractions.
No massive expense. Just another collection of experiences. And perhaps that's what I love most about travelling around New Zealand. You can build a brilliant day around a mixture of free nature, family, memories and one or two paid adventures.
And sometimes the places you return to after decades feel just as special as the new ones.
As darkness settled around Blue Lake, we had another night in our little cabin ahead of us.
And tomorrow?
It was time to find out exactly what Shweeb racing was all about…
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