Sky Waka 13th March 2021

Saturday 13th March was the perfect late Summer day for a group of 9 Lake Taupo Rotarians to travel to Mt Ruapehu in the Club’s Community Van driven by Ray Toms.

We left from Rotary House at 10.00 am for the drive down to Turangi alongside a calm and sparkling lake with not a cloud in the sky. Driving up to Tongariro Chateau and further up the mountain to the official car park at The top of The Bruce, we enjoyed spectacular views of the panoramic landscape. We arrived in good time to take the 12 noon gondolas for the 1.8 km journey up over really rugged country to the very busy Pinnacles Café for lunch and again enjoyed amazing views. We enjoyed a self-serve 3 course buffet lunch with a delicious variety of mini desserts all of which we sampled.   Replete, we returned to the gondolas and gently glided back down to the Top of the Bruce marvelling at the myriad of Tramping and Skiing Club Houses - some 3 storeys high - clinging to the mountain side.   There was a working bee in progress on one which was having its roof repaired. We all went prepared for the weather to turn nasty but it was really warm at the top outside the café and the sun continued to shine all the way home. It was a wonderful day out in good company and would be interesting to repeat on a Winter’s day when there is thick snow .