Sharon Course and her kids jump in the deep end
one mum, four kids and two days in geothermal hotspot Taupo can only add up to one of two things – an absolute blast, or a total meltdown. But after kid-friendly whitewater rafting, wading along a narrow channel in a rock face to a magical hideaway deep in the bush, hugging a giant prawn, splashing in hot pools, getting up close and personal with trout and bees, a tummy-churning blast on a jet boat and tasty food galore, Taupo is officially a hot place to visit, according to my brood.
Situated smack-bang in the dead centre of the North Island, Taupo is easy to get to by road. With a car full of kids, that’s a huge relief. And to the South Islanders who think this rules them out – get a flight. Mr a ferry. Honestly, it’s worth it.
We stayed in one of the gorgeous apartments at oiro’s Accommodation, which are spacious, chic and fully equipped for families. The kids loved the two big flat-screen TVs – and I loved the fact the TVs kept them at bay while I soaked in the luxurious spa bath. Just as well we had this peaceful haven to return to, as from the first morning we were thrown into the deep end – literally.
New Zealand Riverjet, just a short drive from town, offers jet-boat tours down the Waikato River to the geothermal wonderland of orakei Korako, where you’ll see glittering silica terraces, mud pools and natural hot-water streams. But we were going to try a completely new adventure called The Squeeze. Wading into warm, chest-high water through a narrow, winding crevice, I quickly realised how it earned its name. “You should have worn those really ugly undies that hold your belly in, oum,” suggested Hannah (12), as she waded ahead with her brother Ted (11).
After 10 minutes of walking, the crevice opens up into
