Lake Taupo, New Zealand

By Val

@valmnz (17099)

New Zealand

January 14, 2021 1:44am CST

As summer progresses here in New Zealand the temperaure is getting hotter by the day. No where near as hot as @JudyEv in Western Australia might be experiencing, but definitely hot enough for me. I've recently spent a few days visiting my sister and nieces up at Lake Taupo, in the centre of the North Island. We had a lovely time together, walking, talking, eating and drinking.I also managed plenty of quiet reading time. I didn't get to have a swim in the lake, but I did manage to paddle at the edges of it. Taupo is the largest lake by surface area in NZ and is a popular tourist spot. At the moment our borders are closed to international tourists, but New Zealanders are certainly out and about making the most of our beautiful country. We feel extremely lucky to be enjoying our summer without Covid restrictions. There are so many wonderful cafes to enjoy there as well. The photo above was taken as my sister had an early morning coffee beside the lake. It was rather peaceful just sitting, talking and watching people go by. I had only a few days away, but they were relaxing and enjoyable.

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13 responses

@RebeccasFarm (86833)

• United States

14 Jan 21

Such a beauty now this is Val, thanks so much for sharing with us. I would love to be out and about there now and breathing in the refreshing air to soothe my soul.

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@RebeccasFarm (86833)

• United States

14 Jan 21

@valmnz I can see that. You know the best beach I have ever had the blessing to see was in Ireland in the southeast shores, in Wicklow, called Curracloe. Such an expanse of beauty and wild and windy. Several films were filmed there it is so beautiful.

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@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

14 Jan 21

@RebeccasFarm So you like wild and windy too. I rather like the wild deserted beaches. Not sure I can find a photo for you right now, but maybe one day I'll take some more.

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@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

14 Jan 21

Definitely plenty of places to do that here.

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@LadyDuck (458730)

• Switzerland

14 Jan 21

We enjoyed going around during Summer without any restrictions it was really great, but it's hard to keep the borders closed here and now we are paying the summer activities.

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@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

14 Jan 21

Yes, I'm glad we were locked down over winter and can now reap the benefits during summer. However, we are a bit nervous about keeping he new strains out as returning NZers arrive back.

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@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

15 Jan 21

@LadyDuck we're grateful our borders wer closed and we were locked down early.

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@LadyDuck (458730)

• Switzerland

15 Jan 21

@valmnz We all were nervous the past summer, too many started to do as the virus was over, we were sure that with the bad season it would have been even worse... we all knew except the authorities it seems.

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@xFiacre (12618)

• Ireland

14 Jan 21

@valmnz You’re killing me with all that talk of freedom and cafés. Oh for a small, warm, quiet Café where the barista knows what good coffee is.

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@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

14 Jan 21

I'll have one for you next time I go

would you like me to send a photo!!??

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

14 Jan 21

@xFiacre (12618)

• Ireland

14 Jan 21

@valmnz A photo might just push me over the edge!

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@MALUSE (69413)

• Germany

14 Jan 21

It's easier to fight a pandemic if you live on an island than if you live in the centre of a continent. Germany has common borders with nine countries. Denmark in the North, Poland and Czech Republic in the East, Austria and Switzerland in the South and France, Luxembourg, Belgium and The Netherlands on the Western side.

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@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

15 Jan 21

Exactly and for that we are blessed. There are advantages to being a small island nation at the bottom of the world!

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@DianneN (247103)

• United States

14 Jan 21

Lucky you to be out and about. Hubs and I managed to go swimming at our son’s private beach and do some kayaking during the summer months.

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@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

14 Jan 21

How cool is that, so you weren't locked down as most as some.

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@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

15 Jan 21

@DianneN lol, your state is probably larger than our whole country!

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@DianneN (247103)

• United States

15 Jan 21

@valmnz We were lucky. Our state kept it under control, but we were very careful and kept out of stores and restaurants and away from people. Much safer here in our neighborhood than in Florida.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (306724)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

15 Jan 21

I'm glad you had a wonderful vacation with your sister and nieces. It's great you don't have COVID restrictions.

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@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

16 Jan 21

We had our restrictions last year when the rest of the world was enjoying life!

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@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

17 Jan 21

@just4him keeping our fingers crossed we stay safe

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (306724)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

16 Jan 21

@valmnz Now, you're enjoying life. I hope the rest of the world will too, soon.

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@Shavkat (137221)

• Philippines

14 Jan 21

I am glad that you enjoyed doing things there

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@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

14 Jan 21

Yes, the two days felt more like a week.

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@cherigucchi (14879)

• Philippines

14 Jan 21

Its good that you were able to enjoy this

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@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

14 Jan 21

Yes, I agree. Thank you.

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@cherigucchi (14879)

• Philippines

16 Jan 21

crazyhorseladycx

@crazyhorseladycx (39515)

• United States

18 Jan 21

so glad that firm policies got'n place there very early'n the pandemic. new zealand should be 'pplauded by the efforts. jest wonderful that'cha got to go visit, see much beauty 'n be with family jest 'njoyin' life 'n each others company.

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@rakski (112925)

• Philippines

14 Jan 21

it is awesome you are enjoying the summer

@JudyEv (326100)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Jan 21

West Australians are making the most of being allowed out and about too and tourist towns are struggling to keep up with the demand for accommodation and food, etc. What a great bike arrangement too! Thanks for the mention and I'm glad you've had a pleasant few days away.

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@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

14 Jan 21

Likewise here @JudyEv, the county is buzzing Kiwis enjoying summer. I think we're all maybe a bit nervous about what will happen if the new strains arrive here.

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@JudyEv (326100)

• Rockingham, Australia

15 Jan 21

@valmnz It would only take a very few cases for things to turn upside down again.

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@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

15 Jan 21

@JudyEv I think our PM said if the new virus that is coming in with the returning NZ citizens gets out into the community at all we go straight into lockdown. They go straight into managed isoltion, but they till have contact with isolation staff. Who knows what will happn, bt many of us are peparing.

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@freelancermariagrace (27219)

• Philippines

15 Jan 21

That's a nice lake

Nocturnal Writer

@Nakitakona (56302)

• Philippines

15 Jan 21

That's a beautiful lake. I have a friend there who lives in Taurunga. He's a returned missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

15 Jan 21

Tauranga is about two hours away from Taupo, so not far.

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@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

15 Jan 21

@Nakitakona I'm not sure. I've just looked it up but their names don't seem to have anything in common except that one is a cloak and one is a resting place. It also says tau is a prefix fixed to a word to indicate something strange or unusual. Taupo is a lake and Tauranga a harbour.

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Nocturnal Writer

@Nakitakona (56302)

• Philippines

15 Jan 21

@valmnz What do they have in common? Why their name starts with tau?

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