01/3/2017 - Water from sky and earth

Day of week: Tuesday

Cities visited: Whanganui, Tongariro National Park Village
Lodging: Tongariro Crossing Lodge

We woke Tuesday morning to heavy rains. Although not looking forward to driving in such weather it was comforting from the warm bed. We went downstairs and had a nice breakfast of muesli and toast with our hosts, then hit the road for Tongariro. Though the forecast said we'd be fine for our long day hike the next day, driving along we weren't sure. We later learned that all hikes were cancelled this day. 

Zach braved navigating the windy road all the way to Tongariro National Park. We kept our eyes out for interesting places to stop, but this part of the country is fairly empty except for a few tiny towns. 

Once we arrived we had lunch at The Station Cafe, so named because it opens onto the train platform. Emma enjoyed a salty but delicious lamb curry pot pie while Zach opted for the more responsible warm vegetable soup. After checking to the lovely Tongariro Crossing Lodge we read and listened to the rain, and Emma took another nap.

Refreshed from her nap, Emma graciously let Zach drive some more, still through on-and-off heavy rain, to the Tokaanu Thermal Pools. Thermal pools are small bodies of water heated naturally by the earth. Having never been we didn't know what to expect and were blown away. The warm private pool with cool wind and drizzling rain was incredibly romantic -- Emma is now pregnant (just kidding).

Come experience the thermal pools...

After that we returned to the Lodge and showered, then went to Schnapps pub for dinner. Dinner was just ok -- pasta with veggies and red sauce and doused in Parmesan cheese for Emma, ribs and fries for Zach, and a disappointing sickly sweet chocolate cake for dessert. 

We went to bed early to get a good rest before the big hike.