Up early and away to queue for the ferry. Despite a few showers in Picton the ferry crossing is very calm. We get the near last call to board the ferry which means we are close to the stairwell to get up to the deck, but also one of the last off. Still it is before 2 when we get off and we hope to get as far up the island as we can. The camping grounds seem to run out as we head to the middle of the island, but we finally settle in Bulls. Not in the NZMCA handbook, but on the AA maps and one of the best value for money ($30) and very pretty.
Its quite late by the time we set up and I make a frittata for dinner and we have a bottle of Quartz Reef to celebrate our arrival back in the North Island. We are glad we are not near a railway track for once - then we hear the planes landing at Ohakea! But of course the main disturbance of the night was Bulls - well it could have been cows - in the paddock next to us. Mooing in the middle of the night!
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| A very picturesque ablution block
There has been quite a bit of rain overnight, but it doesn't take us long to pack up and get going. We are heading up the centre of the island which is gently but consistently uphill.
We have a cuppa in Taihape. It becomes very misty as we head through the Desert Road. I see a brief glimpse of snow on Ruapehu, then the mist descends again. It is raining too hard when we get to Turangi so we decide to plow on to Taupo. By then the rain has stopped so we set up in the Top Ten camping ground. $52!! but then we find the showers are free as well as access to their swimming pool/spa/bar/movie area. After topping up with diesel Duncan goes for a run while I wallow in the cool then hot pools.
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The weather is now much warmer in the evenings and we enjoy a quiet night.
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