Saturday and Sunday

We woke to heavy cloud and rain this morning and you couldn't see the mountain and the chairlifts were closed so we were very lucky yesterday.

We went down for breakfast which was pretty good for mass produced but the granola and fruit were very nice so I was happy.

We checked out and set off home. We chose a different route and went round the other side of the lake and you can see it all the way and it is huge as big as Qatar they say where the World Cup will be played next.

We got to Taupo and had a coffee and then a walk around the harbour but it was getting windy and stating to rain so we set off home and got back by lunch time.

We went to the supermarket to get something for dinner and I needed a ball of white wool for the blanket I am crocheting.

We had lunch when we got back and Jon watched the Grand Prix qualifying rounds as it had been postponed from Saturday due to rain.

We went to get Totty and by this time it was pouring with rain and when we picked her up she was very wet poor little thing not sure how long she had been out in it.

I cooked a roast lamb dinner and we watched TV till bedtime and I was too tired to do my blog.

WEATHER - Sunday
Overcast followed by rain 20 degrees

We were up early and ready to leave by 9.00 and took Totty to the kennels on our way. She does seem to settle better in this kennel and goes off quite happily with the girl.

We set off and on the journey it was amazing to see how brown everywhere is, I have never seen NZ so brown it is completely dried up.

We stopped for a coffee in a small village and sat in the sun. The people in the cafe were not very friendly. We had a scone and I asked for two butters and was told it would be an extra 20 cents for the second one and it was like I was asking for the moon.

We carried on down towards Tongariro National Park along the road which goes along Lake Taupo but you can't see much of the lake. Last time we visited we went the same way and I remembered how boring the road was then and it is no better now. There is nothing along the road at all of any interest.

We arrived at Mt Ruapehu about lunch time and rather than check in to our hotel we went straight up to the ski area to go on the chair lift to the top cafe for Lunch. It is Knoll Ridge and the highest cafe in NZ.

I must say I was surprised at how little vegetation there is, it is all rocks and what I imagine the moon to be like. It is dark brown and very ugly and not at all like the French and Spanish ski resorts in the summer but then it is a volcano and still active when it wants to be.

We were so lucky with the weather as it had been a little overcast when we were approaching the mountain and the top was covered in cloud but it all cleared and we had good but misty views.

The two chairlift rides were good and I didn't give myself time to be nervous and there were very few people so no waiting to get on and up we went and it was great fun.

At the top we went into the cafe. It is a lovely new building as the old cafe was burnt down in 2009. There was limited choice for lunch and I chose a vegetarian quiche but Jon said he didn't fancy any of it and would wait till we got back down to the base.

We sat outside and had a lovely coffee and my lunch. I went in to the loo and saw they had put more food out (after telling us there was nothing else) and so Jon went in and ordered a panini which was good and he enjoyed it.

We had a walk around at the top and looked at the tracks that go to the top but they can take three hours just to get up to the crater lake and Jon is not fit enough to do that now and especially over the very rough ground. In the winter there is another chairlift to take the skiers up to the slopes.

We got on the chairlift to go down and it seemed much steeper on the way back but lovely views.

At the bottom we went to look at one of the sights that was used to film part of Lord of the Rings. It was very steep and slippery and I was glad to get back onto firm ground.

We left the ski field and drove round the other side of Mt Ruapehu to Ohakune which is the carrot capitol of NZ and a pretty little town.

We got back to the hotel and checked in and we had a much nicer view from our room this time.

We went down for drinks at 6.30 and dinner was booked for 7.00. We went into the dining room which was very busy and ordered our dinner. Our starters came very quickly but we then waited about 50 minutes for our main and so did everyone else in the restaurant but nobody said anything. I asked the waiter how long it would be and he said he was sorry they had a big function downstairs and were busy in the kitchen - wrong answer.

Eventually our steaks came out and were cold and the vegetables came out and they, too were cold. It was such a shame. The waiter offered me a cup of coffee for compensation - I think he was having a laugh and I said no. Eventually he said we could have the wine but it didn't make up for the spoilt dinner.

WEATHER - Saturday
Lovely warm sunny day 24 degrees