Taupo - A must visit place on your North Island itinerary
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| Sunset of Lake Taupo |
Here is the first stop i travel alone after my job ended in mid of November 2013. I still can remember clearly that i been weeping and sniffling about an hour long inside the bus heading from Te Puke to Taupo. It's hard to leave my housemates and the place i been staying & working for the past 2.5months. Lots of good memories created and i shed into tears uncontrollably as i know we might not be able to see each other again.
Well, it's lucky i have my tissue on me that time : p
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Nakedbus is the company i booked my bus ticket & the NZD5 booking fee looked too expensive to me. Anyway, it's the normal price to be paid for the transport of NZ. Only one luggage is allowed unless you would like to pay more. (You can "try" your luck too, sometimes the driver is not paying attention on the number of luggage you carry, especially in south island ; p)
穷游嘛，总想尽办法省钱。。甚至到无耻的地步。。。不过这方法较适合用于行李较小者，如果你提了几个大大的行李，很难不被注意呀。。
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| Base Taupo |
Accomodation : Base Taupo
This is the first time i stayed in a mixed dorm with other backpackers from different countries. At first i felt weird and strange with this "new" experience. But i get used to it soon.
The receptionist has a poker face and is not that helpful. The cleanliness of the hostel just on average. One of the shared bathroom cannot locked properly and there is one time a guy opened the door when i was brushing my teeth, luckily i haven't stripped off my clothes yet !!
The last night in Taupo was too "surprising" me ! I can't believe that people can do this inside the small mixed dorm when another 3 people sleeping inside! It's ridiculous! The Canadian guy brought her girlfriend (maybe?? or just someone met in the pub?) into my room during midnight and started their "exercise" in front of me & another two roommates! I can smell alcohol and i believe that he's drunk. I am too shocked, frustrated, and scared as well ! But now it looked like a big joke to me and became one of my unforgettable memories in NZ.
这家hostel除了很多背包客，也有很多自由行的游客，厨房客厅满满都是人。
What i have done in Taupo :
(a) Skydiving (Highly Recommended!)
There are two skydiving companies in Taupo and i choose the pink aircraft as my very first skydiving experience. If you are a budget traveller, you can do your skydive in Taupo, either 12,000 or 15,000 feet.
Website: www.skydivetaupo.co.nz [0800 586 766]
Packages are available from NZD439, including DVDs, photos, T-shirts and the town pick-ups in a white limousine (the car will made you feel like you are a Hollywood celebrity ; p)
The experience was amazing and definitely worth the money! You won't felt wasted money anyway. Tandem jump with a qualified instructor increased the sense of security, the experience of up to 45 seconds of free fall before the chute open was thrilling enough. You will face your fear, that's so close to you, then conquer it at the moment of jumping out from the aircraft! I even can feel my heart is beating so fast and i can't even smile to the cameraman, i think my stiffy facial expression just make me looked funny in the photo!
(b) Aratiatia Rapids [Free]
A hydroelectric dam across the waterway, shutting off the flow from Waikato River. The floodgates opened everyday and you can see the crystal clear water crash through the dam.
Gates open time: 10am, noon 2pm & 4 pm (Oct to Mar)
10am, noon 4pm (Apr to Sept)
The skydive already cost me a bomb, therefore i didn't even think of this 30 minutes thrill ride of Hukafalls jet. But you can follow the walkpath to enjoy the serene scenery of Hukafalls for free : )
Website: www.hukafallsjet.com [07-3748572]
If i have extra money for this, definitely i will go for it! It looked fun!
(d) Honey Hive
A place where you can buy some honey or bee products (edible, medicinal & cosmetic), even mead here as souvenirs. There is a glass-enclosed viewing hive & honey tastings! You can try as many honey as you want ! A small cafe inside as well and i have my ice-cream here : )
Website: www.honeyhivetaupo.com [10am - 5pm]
(e) Sailing
This was an unexpected activity i did in Taupo under the recommendation of a friend.
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| The red colour cushion sofa provided is quite comfort for your to sit or lie on it! |
Except for the sunbathe that made me became darker immediately after the 2.5hours under the bright sun, anyway it was a relaxing and worth-to-try activity!
The price is not expensive too, only NZD35 sailing to the famous Maori rock carvings on Lake Taupo.
Website: http://sailfearless.co.nz/
(f) Lake Taupo [Free]
Well, sometimes you no need to pay even a single cent to enjoy the great view! Just take a short walk around the beautiful lake or sitting at the lakeside to enjoy the sunshine : )
21 November 2013: I was leaving Taupo today and waiting for the bus to Napier at the bus stop. Are they coming to bid farewell to me?!! :))
菜鸟背包客的初体验
这是我第一次一个人睡在背包客栈。还记得我一打开房门就看到一位长得很帅的男生躺在床上看书。原来是来自阿根廷啊，因为地理常识太烂我还特地google了一下，官方语言是西班牙语，难怪他一直说自己英文不好，我也用我的菜英文和他乱聊，热情的他晚上还煮了意大利面请我吃，把我白天的那份悲伤一扫而空了呢 : )
第二天晚上房里多了一对来自英国的姐妹花。标准的金发蓝眼正妹。姐姐在中国教书，妹妹刚刚大学毕业，一起旅行两个月呢。妹妹还教我玩Tinder，说也许可以认识不错的对象，太可爱了！可惜她们只待一个晚上就离开了。
后来搬进来另一位也是来自英国的背包客，看起来有点严肃，从刚开始生硬的“Hi.”到后来的侃侃而谈，之后还陪我去Napier找工作，以为不会再见，怎知后来在南岛不期而遇了好几次！
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