Breaking News from the New Zealand Whirlwind Tour

Jenn and I are now in the town of Taupo (we are told it is pronounced "toe paw," but we're not sure how to properly say it with our American accent), which sits on the shore of Lake Taupo, the largest lake in the Southern hemisphere. Across the lake is a big snow covered volcano that was Mt. Doom in Lord of the Rings. It is all quite beaufitful, but painfully cold with frigid winds blowing in from the lake. Actually, it has been pretty damn cold from the moment we stepped out of the airport in Auckland, but the locals seems to be just fine in shorts, while we wear everything we've got, including thermals, gloves and hats. Tomorrow I am going on a guided Tongariro Crossing trek, which evidently involves eight hours of walking at altitude through snow and chilling winds. Jenn is opting for the more sensible activity of soaking in thermal hot pools.