Not many travel stories start at a laundromat, but this is a tale about how taking time to do a necessary but mundane task can lead to a great day of adventures.
It’s about 9am when I arrive in Taupo on New Zealand’s North Island.
The scenic journey along the Thermal Explorer Highway from Rotorua has only taken about an hour but it was marred by morning fog and showers.
Thankfully the forecast says it should clear and become fine by mid-morning.
So I decide the best use of my time is to find a laundromat and refresh my dwindling supply of clean clothes while the weather improves a little.
I find a laundromat on the outskirts of town. It’s quite a busy place but I manage to find a vacant machine and load my washing. I check the timing. I have about 45 minutes to kill for the washing, and about 30 minutes for the dryer.
I’ve been looking forward to my visit to Taupo but haven’t got a particular plan, so I retreat to the comfort of my car to consult Google and find out what my options are.
Taupo is famous for its many natural attractions which include Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest freshwater lake, and Huka Falls, a set of spectacular waterfalls on the Waikato River.
Both these are easily accessible from the town, and Google tells me there are many mountain bike trails alongside the Waikato River and Lake Taupo.
Being a bike enthusiast, my mind is made up.
It turns out there’s a bike shop nearby, so while my laundry is tumbling around in the machine, I take a short walk down the road to find out if I can hire a bike from them.
Visiting Huka Cycles turns out to be a good decision. Yes, they hire out bikes, but they are also super helpful with suggestions on ride options.
I learn that Taupo has a surprisingly large mountain bike network with trails that suit both beginners and advanced riders — but since I’m here just for the day, they suggest a couple of the most scenic ones that include both river and lake experiences.
I secure a Trek e-mountain bike for a half-day rental and rush back to the laundromat to finish the job at hand. When that is done, the rain and foggy conditions have cleared to reveal a clear blue sky — perfect for a bike adventure.
Eager to hit the trails, I rush back to the shop to pick up the bike.
The friendly team at Huka Cycles suggest I begin with a ride out along the Waikato River to see Huka Falls and, if time permits, a cruise along the Lake Taupo foreshore.
As luck would have it, the Rotary River Trail begins at Spa Thermal Park close to the bike shop, so less than five minutes after getting on the bike, I’m riding a beautiful single track alongside the Waikato River.
It’s not a technical trail but it’s quite hilly so I’m grateful for the extra boost from the e-bike when the going gets tough.
I have been warned to look out for other riders because it’s a two-way track, but I see no one else until I get to Huka Falls.
The falls are one of New Zealand’s most visited natural attractions. I hear them long before I see them, and when I do, I can understand why it is such a popular attraction.
As I stand on the observation bridge that spans the gorge, I’m mesmerised by the torrent of water passing below me.
Nearly a quarter of a million litres of water per second thunder through a gorge just 15m wide into the Waikato River 11m below.
“If I see nothing else today, visiting Taupo would have been worth it,” I think.
I cross the bridge and pick up the trail on the other side of the river towards Aratiatia Dam. The trail is literally on the edge of the gorge, and I can see and hear the Huka Falls below. At a clearing, I stop to get another view of this amazing phenomenon. I hear another roar and squeals of delight as a powerful jet boat powers through the turbulent water and makes a sweeping U-turn just before the falls.
It looks like an amazing experience, but I feel like I have the best view from the top of the gorge.
A little further on, near Red Bridge, I come across part of Taupo’s large network of mountain bike trails but I’m happy just to continue my meandering ride along the riverside trail towards Aratiatia Dam. The trail has a nice mix of gentle climbs and descents as it winds its way through the native bush along the riverside.
I complete the Aratiatia Loop and begin to make my way back through the riverside suburbs towards Lake Taupo. Even though it’s hilly, it’s easy going thanks to the e-bike, so I have plenty of time to enjoy the ride.
Taupo is a lovely town with lively retail streets and a beautiful lake foreshore.
The lake looks stunning and there are many other people out enjoying the sunshine, walking, jogging and cycling along the foreshore.
One of the guys at Huka Cycles recommended I stop for a beer at the Two Mile Bay Sailing Club. I’m always open to good suggestions, and it seems about beer o’clock when I spot the popular lakeside venue along the trail a bit outside town (about 3km, I’m guessing).
I park my trusty steed, find a nice sunny spot, and order a crisp, cold beer.
I reflect on a day well spent — laundry, cycling, spectacular scenery, and beer — and decide that life doesn’t get much better.
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