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inside view
The next day, we drove to Mount Ruapehu, a winter ski destination in Tongariro National Park. The journey to the mountaintop was a breathtak- ing experience, with beautiful landscape, snow- capped mountains and pine forests. The chairlift sightseeing ride to the top was most invigorating,
heightened by the crisp and cool mountain air. The kids had fun playing in the snow – snowboarding, toboggan- ing and throwing snow-
balls.
The following day, we
visited Te Puia in Rotorua, an hour’s drive north of Taupo. A thermal active Maori village, Te Puia is where visitors can learn all about Maori dances, culture and
Action-Packed Adventure
MNew Zealand is a photographer’s paradise, says RCI Member Abdul Razak Bin Mohamed, who spent a week in the North Island with his family.
My wife, our four sons and I visited Lake Taupo handicrafts, and observe mud pools, geysers, hot in New Zealand’s North Island for a week last waterfall, hot steam and kiwi birds.
August. We rented a Toyota Previa at Auckland We did not realise until much later that we International Airport and drove four-and-a-half were actually standing on a very thin ground that hours south to Taupo, strategically located in the separated us from the hot molten magma under- centre of the North Island. It was an easy drive, ground. Earlier, during our journey to Rotorua, just like in Malaysia, as the highway road condi- we saw what looked like smoke coming from the
Congratulations, ABDUL RAZAK BIN MOHAMED! You have won S$100 for sharing your travel experiences with us. Thank you for contributing your holiday story.
tions were good. What’s more, there was no need to pay tolls and parking was free everywhere!
The RCI Gold Crown Resort in Taupo, Lake Edge Resort, may look ordinary from the outside but inside, an amazing environment greets you, like a scene from a postcard. At our backyard was Lake Taupo, with boats, yachts, wild ducks and swans on the deep blue waters, set against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains and glori- ous sunshine. We knew we had chosen the right place and the right time for our holiday. I wish I could have painted what I saw at the Resort.
Our two-bedroom unit was equipped with full-kitchen facilities, a hot spa and a Jacuzzi. Outside the unit was a heated swimming pool.
Want To Win Cash?
Share your RCI holiday experiences with us! Send your story to Endless Vacation, RCI Asia-Pacific Pte Ltd, #09-01/05 PWC Building, 8 Cross Street, Singapore 048424.
Or email it to asiamembers@rci.com.
Be sure to include your RCI Membership Number and a selection of photos with details of the people in the photos and where the shots were taken. Closing date: 31 May 2007.
forest. They were actually hot steam from the ground and the air was filled with the smell of sulphur. New Zealand’s unique geography was rather educational for our sons.
Next, we headed for Waitomo, two hours’ drive east of Taupo. Waitomo is home to the famous Glowworm Caves. A boat ride along the dark underground river caves revealed millions of glowworms stuck to the cave ceiling, making it appear like a star-filled sky.
The highlight of our trip was the quad bike ride in a Waitomo farmland. We rode on the quad bike – a motorbike with four giant wheels – for two hours, through rolling plains, hills, pasture fields and grazing areas. What an exhilarating experience!
On our last day, we visited a bee farm and a prawn farm. We also rode on the Huka Jet Boat and contemplated whether or not to bungee jump. In the end, my sons “chickened out” of bungee jumping and I wondered if it was because they were afraid or that they wanted to save their father some money!
Thanks RCI, for making our holiday so exciting and memorable. We hope to visit the South Island next.
24 ENDLESS VACATION