Middle Earth

Roger’s mother is not well, so we drove down the North Island, to Wellington. The drive, for two hours was in fog conditions until we arrived at the town of Turangi, a trout fisherman’s Mecca. The town is also a staging post before National Park. Much snow, skiing delights and tired skiers can retreat to the hot springs and soak wary limbs in the numerous thermal springs in the area.

However, one place is potentially not a retreat where I would sleep comfortably or anywhere near it. At the lookout,below the steaming cliffs, that tower over the road and the little picturesque village of Waihi (seen from afar!). The village flanks the western side of Lake Taupo, on a winter’s morning, for all its swirling, misty waters.

Apparently, a series of earthquakes and the threat of a major landslide had meant the village was evacuated a couple of years ago. The whole place has ‘Lord of the Rings’ written all over it. It is incredibly atmospheric and eerie in a timeless way. The fact casual visitors are not allowed to venture into the village makes it all the more intriguing.