Turangi – Raetihi – Wanghanui - Waikanae - Wellington

Rode out of Turangi to Raetihi via National Park, taking in Mt Ruapehu, all the way, meet a Danish couple on hwy 47 Celine and Maarten,http://bigtriptinyblog.com going north doing a cycle loop of N.Z. Camp at Raetihi.
Leave for the Wanghanui river, mountains to the sea cycle trail, lunch at Pipiriki and then attempt to get to Wanghanui in one go, to hard goin, so we we camp 30k or so out of town, Definitely the route to take if goin south from Taupo, endless river and mountain range, volcanic plateau to the sea. gold!
Get to Wanghanui late, stock up, meet Rose local Maori, with a wealth of Knowledge about the Maori struggle for land rights, “Keep the H in wangHanui “, we might get a visit from Rose  back in Oz, what a great soul. Do a lap of town, decide to cycle on. we get to the town of Bulls, just on dark camp behind the church, thanks God.
Get up early before getting dragged into mass,, get some miles in to get to Wellington, as we have booked a ferry for the 19th. end up in town called  Waikanae, really late again, try the Christian church camp? and they gave us the worst reception I've experienced in N.Z not bicycle friendly .Bloody tired today and cold having a, c.b.f moment, so wangled a really good deal at the Pub, Claudia and i were pleased. A cold Jug Tasted sooooogood.
Leave for Wellington overall not so good conditions,  got our first puncture on a downhill in a downpour , offcourse.  We met Ludo from Belgium, he has been all over the world on his bicycle, over four or so years, now that's a tour , an another inspiring soul whos done so much. He had a go bad in motorcycle accident, hence the name of his blog http://www.freeandunlimited.be your a legend mate.
Arrived in Wellington mid Arvo, it was a challenging ride, cities always are, Welcome to the machine if you know what i mean! Hosteled it, had a good look around town, A very nice city found a really good vegothai place…….tomorrow the great south island……yewwwww
    

Taupo – Turangi – Tongariro National Park

Well into middle earth N.Z now. A very Scenic Lake Taupo Ride, Get into Turangi,Trout fishing capital of N.Z, later that evening, and find our selves a t a hostel, run by Ian and his family, As hostels go this  one was very cosy, and not over the top in cost as we have found N.Z to be.  We stayed a couple of days, Ian, is an exceptional host, who lives there and is always of great humour, and always helpful, he liked to have a couple  of aussies there………..
We hike the,  Tongariro Alpine crossing, Ian Shuttles us in at 5AM, the hike is day 3 ,of a 4 day hike and is regarded as one of the best one day hikes on the planet, it was Awesome, you take in Mt Ngauruhoe (which is Mt Doom, in lord of the Rings), Mt Ruapehu 2797m   (Moordoor, Lord of the rings) ,and a lot of active geothermal areas, like a lot of N.Z no photo can give justice , see this place if you can, we were fortunate to have semi clear weather to see all the vistas……. Shauno, from Canada, thanks for the trout mate.