I finally persuaded our internet connection to upload the Taupo photos (thanks for that, Vodafone, it only took me days, days which I will never ever get back, ever…) and here’s one taken at The Craters of the Moon, a geothermally active area just north of Taupo and a few minutes drive away from where we where staying at the Bayview Wairakei Resort (the Other Harf can highly recommend the buffet in the Fairway Cafe, Miss 9 the heated swimming pools and I have fond memories of the power shower, the Continental Breakfast Bar and the complimentary organic toiletries).

Our small band of tourists did a circuit past craters, fumeroles and pockets of steaming earth, the whole while flanked by low-growing prickly scrub that went by the name of “prostrate kanuka”, which sounds more like a medical affliction one wouldn’t want to admit to at a party than a member of the tea-tree family, but there you go.

We also took in Lilliput Farm, which is a lovely wee animal and fun park situated a few kilometres north of the hotel, which all the kids (and the adults, even those without kids) loved. We fed goats, deer, pigs, miniature ponies, donkeys, sheep, alpacas, geese, chickens and ducks, and Miss 9 got to cuddle some incredibly cute baby rabbits and kittens while the birthday boy S had an in-depth conversation with an Indian Ring Necked parrot which went something like this:

Parrot: “How are ya baby!”
S – “Yeah, I’m good, looking forward to a few beers later, how’s yourself?”
Parrot: “How are ya baby!”

I was most taken with the incredibly affectionate cats in residence, which all seemed to love to find a lap and smooch up. My kind of cats; I can’t be bothered with the snooty ones – if I’m gonna feed you, at least show me some love.

Here’s the latest additions, which Mama Cat didn’t mind in the slightest about being picked up by enthusiastic children. And if you’re ever in Taupo and you’ve done Huka Falls and the Huka Jet and all the usual suspects, check out both these places – we can highly recommend them.