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Starting with scenery, not a city.
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New Zealand / Rotorua and Taupo / Jul 2024
Rotorua and Taupo under grey skies
First stop out of Auckland. Steaming ground, damp weather, cold lake views. This is where it started to feel like a road trip.
This is where it started feeling like New Zealand. Steam, wet roads, heavy clouds, and water that looked colder than I expected.
Not sunny at all. I remember it better because of that.
No giant highlight needed. Grey light, steam coming out of the rocks, rain by the lake, and a slower pace after arriving.
Good first stop if you want the trip to start with weather and landscape, and take it slow.
Rotorua and Taupo, quickly
Jump to a part
Steam, clouds, rain and lake views, before heading west.
The lake didn’t need sun. Grey suited it.
On Rotorua and Taupo
Geothermal
Let the landscape do the work
Steam, rock, grey light, low winter sky. It looked a bit unreal. Not a postcard day, and better for it.
Lake Taupo
Short stop, but I still remember the lake
Heavy clouds, a bit of drizzle, no sun. It’s better if you don't rush it.
On the road
More weather than sightseeing
This leg was about the weather, the lake, the steam, and the trip starting to open up.
Personal take
Strong start. The mood was there from day one.