From caves to coastline

Next stop was Taupo, on the edge of the largest lake in New Zealand (Lake Taupo). We took it easy as we were still achy from the previous days shenanigans! We milled around the town for a bit before heading to the Huka Honey Hive where we unsuccessfully tried to spot the queen bee in their live hive display! We tasted about 9 different honeys - all very different but equally as yummy, from the light floral lavender, to medicinal Manuka to the god damn super tasty Tawari. We parked up at a free campsite and took a walk to Huka Falls. Quite spectacular falls on the Waikato river which starts from Lake Taupo and ends in Auckland making it the longest river in New Zealand. The flow over the falls is 40 cubic metres a second and as a whole the river produces 15% of New Zealand's power (hmmm interesting I hear you say!!??).
From Taupo we headed West to Waitomo, famous for its expansive cave systems, home to the even more famous glow worms. Here we took a legendary black water rafting trip of three hour adventure, hiking through a jungle, venturing into a dark cave, jumping off waterfalls (in the dark cave) and floating in tubes while glancing up at the glow worms living on the cave ceiling. It was quite amazing, they look like little blue stars in the night sky! After a much needed hot shower and soup we headed north to the Coromandel Peninsular where we'd spend the last few days in NZ.
We started by visiting the famous Paeroa (L&P) and had the customary photo taken with the giant bottle! We spent the following day driving up the west coast visiting various picturesque beaches, some of which featured nude sunbathing - not by us may we add! We finished the day by hiking up Mt Paku (all of 178 metres of it) for stunning panoramic views. The 'short walk' to this extinct volcano took somewhat longer than expected, so the offer from an older unfit American couple (who drove most the way up) back to the town was much appreciated!!! We rewarded ourselves with fresh caught fish and chips- red snapper and Dory-yummy!
Up early the next morning for our 3 hour sea kayaking trip around Hahei Marine Reserve to the famous Cathedral Cove among other beautiful secluded beaches. Luckily the sea was flat as a pancake and we managed to remain vertical at all times. Matt spent the rest of the day unsuccessfully fossiking in Gemstone bay for Sam's amethyst! That evening we thought seeing as we were in the area, we should do the customary touristy thing and dig ourselves a spa on Hot Water Beach. Natural hot springs under the sand provide water up to 75 degrees celsius, and 2 hours before and after low tide you can dig yourself a spa. We learned theres an art to it from the locals. Dig half in a hot area and half in a cold area and you get a good mix.
Next day we ambled down the east coast of the peninsula and saw some huge Kauri trees around 600 years old and 6 metres in diameter but still only a 10th the age of the oldest recorded, before heading up to Aukland for our last day in New Zealand.