Taupo Hot Spring Shower

Things like the rafting are a blast, but also relatively expensive, so discovering something fun and free is always a treat. This pic is of me in a hot spring waterfall we discovered on a free hiking trail at Huka Falls in Taupo. The water was on the verge of being too hot (you can see the steam in the picture) and ran right in to the Waikato River, an extremly cold river whose partial source is the mountain that is used as Morder in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ movies. Fun fact: I’m in my underwear – the free warmth (I’ve been cold since I arrived in NZ) was too much to resist, so I just stripped down and jumped in, with the nearby teacher, schoolkids and passing hikers barely batting an eye. I’m surprised they didn’t at least comment on the dorky look on my face here.