A week or so back we drove down to Lake Taupo, the largest lake in New Zealand, on the North Island for the weekend. On a beautiful Saturday morning we took a lakeside walk. I notice a large stone floating in the water and got curious. The other girls told me it was a pumice stone and then I noticed there were lots along the water's edge. Pumice is volcanic rock, a solidified frothy lava formed when it mixes with lava. The lake was very peaceful and I returned later in the day to swim.
I also got the chance to ride a Segway (personal transporter) for the first time. You can hire them in Taupo to ride around the lake or just for a 10 minute ride.
Just two days after we returned we heard of the devestating effects of the Christchurch earthquake on New Zealand's south island and watched a newsreader reporting live, close to tears. A sad day.