Taupō to Wellington by Intercity Coach

Your coach journey will skirt around the edge of New Zealand largest lake and lead you to Turangi, the self proclaimed Trout Fishing Capital. You then travel up onto the central plateau and the high country Rangipo Desert. Nearby is Tongariro National Park, one of New Zealand's three world heritage sites and if the weathers clear you can see the 2,500 metre peak of the still volcanically active Mouny Ruapehu. You might recognise the symmetrical shape of Mount Ngauruhoe as this was used as the scenery of Mount Doom in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Heading south you pass through the rural towns of Taihape, Mangaweka and Bulls before arriving on the Kāpiti Coast which is the outer limits of greater Wellington. Wellington City is New Zealand's capital. It sits on a wonderful deep natural harbour and is surrounded by bush clad hills. The city centre itself is quite compact (only around 1 square kilometre) and so exploring on foot is relatively easy.