En route from Rotorua to Tongariro National Park.

We woke up to rain and 11 degrees. Cold and windy. It stayed like that the whole day and it became even colder in the Mountains. Rotorua is settled on the central plateau. Yesterday we drove to the east and today to the south. The landscape is about the same. Quite flat, mostly forest planted with Califorian Pinetrees. Normally it takes these trees 75 years to be ready for cutting, here they are ready after 25 years, due to the climate and the volcanic soil. Most of the timber is exported to Asia, like everything else they export here.  Before we arrived in Taupo we watched the Huka falls. King Willem Alexander and his wife Maxima stayed in the very famous Huka Lodge not far from here during their honeymoon. We did not feel for taking the walk in the rain. Via Taupo and the big lake we continued into the Tongariro National Park.  A park with 3 active volcanoes. We live just under one of them Mount Ruapehu in Chateau Tongariro. This rainy afternoon we just had tea and scones in the lounge, but tomorrow we shall have sun and warmer weather and have planned a walk from about 6/7 hours.