I don't mean this in a disparaging way, but the drive down from Dawson Falls was even better than the drive up. Bar getting out of the car park, I didn't touch the gas peddle at all until I got to the base of the mountain - gravity just did all the work (and the limit!) for me. Probably the most effortless scenic drive I've ever had!
Naturally, the drive back to Stratford took me through some of the finest dairy country in the world - and it shows. I have to admit that driving Taranaki is one of the great pleasures in life.
Stratford Glockenspiel - The Stratford Glockenspeil in Taranaki
Taranaki - Stratford Glockenspiel - Brief information on the Stratford Glockenspiel in Taranaki
Taranaki - Street scene at Taranaki Pioneer Village - Street scene at the Taranaki Pioneer Village outside Stratford
Stratford - Taranaki Pioneer Village - Travelogue from a visit to Pioneer Village near Stratford, Taranaki
Mt Egmont and King Edward Park - Mt Egmont seen from the King Edward Park playing fields in Stratford
Mt Egmont / Taranaki peak - Peak of Mt Egmont / Taranaki seen from the front seat of a helicopter
Taranaki - closeup of Mt Egmont seen from the air - Closeup of snow covered Mt Egmont / Taranaki seen from a helicopter
Lake Mangamahoe and Mt Egmont / Taranaki - Mount Egmont / Taranaki seen from Lake Mangamahoe, just off State Highway 3 in Taranaki
Stratford - view of Mt Egmont / Taranaki - View of Mt Egmont / Taranaki from Stratford on State Highway 3
Mt Taranaki - Dawson Falls - Dawson Falls on Mount Egmont / Taranaki
Taranaki - Like No Other - Official website of Taranaki Tourism
Mark Sukhija is a travel and wine blogger, photographer, tourism researcher, hat-touting, white-shirt-wearing, New Zealand fantatic and eclipse chaser. Aside from at least annual visits to New Zealand, Mark has seen eclipses in South Australia (2002), Libya (2006), China (2009) and Queensland (2012). After twelve years in Switzerland, Mark moved back to London in 2012. You can follow Mark on Twitter or Facebook