[jess]

Driving north for a visit to Taupo from Kapiti, sticking with SH1 is the quickest, but I noticed highway 4 which goes through Wanganui and Raetihi isn't too much further out of the way. Is it worth driving 4 on the way back to see some different scenery than on the way up, or are the sights along SH1 and 4 pretty similar?

Thanks for any help!

[sarahw]

Hmmmm - I had this question a few months ago when I went up to Hamilton - bit of advice from someone who learnt the hard way - take the SH1 - it takes hours longer on the SH4 - doesn't look much on the map but its a really windy road & once you get stuck behind an agregate truck its not very fast & there aren't many passing lanes on it. They were doing roadworks on it & I'm not kidding but I had to put the car into 4WD a couple of times to get through the roadworks!

To be honest the scenery on the SH4 isn't so earth shattering to take you up there & add an extra hour or few to your journey - you're best off up on the SH1 - you've got Ruapehu & the Desert road which are pretty great for scenery! Plus the state of the roads is much better!!

Have a great trip!!

[jess]

Thanks, that's just what I needed to hear! Will stick to SH1 then.

[Smiler]

Jess I'll second what Sarah says. :nice1

Have a great trip!

[sizzlingbadger]

You could do what we did. Travelled up on the SH1 on the Desert Road side, then on the way back travelled the other side of the mountains, drove right up to the ski fields at Whakapapa :D then back around to Wairou (sp? ?), it does take a few hours longer but definitely worth it. Especially the view point, as you come out of Turangi and take the left hand turn, head up the steep hill there's a view point on the right hand side. Get a fantastic view of the Lake from there.

[Big Puku]

I'd stick to SH1 too, and make sure you've got your licence ready for the police stop at Waiouru!

[Kim39]

As a trucker here i would say stay on SH1.

Kim

[jess]

Thanks all for the info!! Not a lot of extra time for this drive - we'll stick to SH1. Going to cruise on the Barbary when we go up - it's the racing yacht Errol Flynn won in a game of cards. Will snap some pics.

[sarahw]

Funny Jess,

We just booked the Barbary yesterday for our trip up there!! Friends of ours said it was a fantastic trip & very reasonable!! May even see you on the boat!

[stu70]

drove right up to the ski fields at Whakapapa

Whakapapa? Now if NZ style of talk makes you substitute F for W, God only help those who live down there :D ...Are you telling me folks keep a straight face talking about places like that? Only curious coz you hear that kinda talk from mothers here when kids praise their dads while making the moms do most of the grunt work :laugh

[sizzlingbadger]

:laugh

It certainly gave my OH a laugh when I told him where we were going :D

[jess]

Drove up to Taupo for the day yesterday. 3 and 3/4 hours each way on SH1, but almost no traffic going up at 5am or leaving Taupo at 6:30 pm.

The Barabary was great Sarah! Barbary Bill is semi-retired - he chooses whether he wants to sail or go gliding on the day. He did not sail with us, but David, the guy who skippered, was great and has the same last name - maybe his son? He and the young man, Sam, who's learning, were cracking jokes and very nice and answering everyone's questions.

The trip ended up taking us a tiny bit over 3 hours by the time we were back on land. Depends on the wind. Despite the warm weather everyone was breaking out their jackets and hats once we got out on the water. We did the 10am cruise and I was cold most of the trip. We didn't get to go swimming at the Moari carvings despite the gorgeous day because he said the water had been too cold this summer. If he offers you a chance to steer the boat, take it! It was great fun and made for a nice picture. :D

Skydiving was less fun, because they told us to be there at 3:10 then told us to take a seat because it could be 2 hours or so before they called him up to be dressed and trained. Luckily it was the last thing planned for the day, because we were there for over 3 hours by the time OH jumped. :(

Huka Falls was one of my favorite parts of the day. Not steep like I expected, but the sheer force of the water and the color of blue!! :)

[Ana&Steve]

Huka Falls was one of my favorite parts of the day. Not steep like I expected, but the sheer force of the water and the color of blue!! :)
I agree! I've never seen water that color before! We walked those trails for hours, too and had such a beautiful day! :) (also there were ripe wild blackberries everywhere so we snacked on those while we walked :nice1 )
Ana

[sizzlingbadger]

Great to hear you had a wonderful time.

Given me a great idea for a surprise for my OH, a trip on the Barbary. He was eyeing it up last time we went to Taupo but we didn't have time :nice1

We loved Huka Falls, flew over in a helicopter, a very memorable experience and highly recommended :)

[sarahw]

Thanks Jess,

Sounds fantastic - can't wait to go will remember hats & jackets as well!!