The Three Day Taupo Thunder (4 of 4): Huka Prawn Park

I finally managed to spit out this last instalment of our Taupo excursion.

Huka Prawn Park is actually located in the same compound as the Huka Falls Jet office, literally just next door -- which is why it was so hard to avoid.

VERY hard to avoid...

Fishing was a major point of contention for myself and PIC on this trip. Neither of us are accomplished fisher people, in fact we know next to squat about it but PIC is a genuine enthusiast. He bought a fishing pole last year which he never used, went on a futile fishing trip with a few guy friends who mostly ended up seasick, and even takes the time to watch documentaries or fishing shows on cable every weekend. As such, yes, he is an enthusiast, but not an applied one.

So just imagine how the planning went for this trip when PIC got a whiff of potential trout fishing in the area and when I realized that such an endeavour would mean a full day lost to sitting around feeding fish and waiting around for that poor "special" little trout who forgets to let go of the hook once he's nibbled onto our bait. Needless to say, the conversation wasn't pretty but one that I eventually one, with no prisoners.

The whole "no fishing" plan went to pot though as soon as we drove into Huka park and saw the giant sign that said Huka Prawn Fishing. Even my hardened heart was not immune to the doe eyes that turned to me and that big flashing grin that said "Pleeeeeeeeeaaaaasssssseee.........." Ugh. Prawn fishing it is.

The place is open from 9.00AM to 4.30PM during the summer months and we had arrived just before lunch. While I was dragging my feet and barely past the threshold, PIC had already bought two Adult Super Fun Passes for $24 each and checking timetables for when the next prawn farm tour was happening.

Can you see the ball?

We hopped onto this little space first where you get to drive a bucket of golf balls into floating holes and the further you hit the ball, the more points you get. I couldn't get past the first goal and there were a couple of hard swings with the ball still left on the fake green as well. Conclusion: We don't like golf.

Prawn farm tour up next!

The tour took less than 15minutes I think. They just took us through the room that reroutes the hot geothermal waters into the farm and allows the prawn to bask in the temperatures of their natural habitat year round. Then we go to see the grand daddy prawn, a quick lesson on survival of the fittest among prawns, and their whole life cycle. Once done, we get a quick run through on how to prawn fish with an unassuming bamboo rod, string, and bait. Oh what fun (in my drollest voice ever).

The Gauntlet

Delaying the inevitable, I asked PIC if we can stroll through the park first. There was a mini geyser, a trout pond, a human piano fountain (you step on wooden piano keys to activate fountains on the pond), there was also a geothermal foot bath, and the "Gauntlet." This last attraction actually works like a scene out of Takeshi's Castle where you try to cross a little pond by stepping on rocks and pray hard that the water trays overhead don't suddenly pour water on you. Oh yippeee.

All distractions exhausted, it was time to find our spot and start feeding, err... fishing for prawn.

After hours and hours (just two really), PIC finally gave in to my nagging and left his post slowly leaving his spot. And while we walk towards the exit, he has a baited line dragging in the water behind him "just in case"

I swear it was like watching a little kid play fisherman!

As PIC says -- You never know...

While I go on and on about how droll it was and how I wish I could have been elsewhere -- I exaggerate really. Fishing is just not my cup of tea and I guess I just had a very good premonition of how things will turn out for our little tin bucket - Empty! However, if we had kids, and it was a family affair, this would be tops on my list for good ol' family fun in Taupo. There is just no end of things to do and the kids would be less jaded than I in thinking that all they need to do is fling their lines into the ponds and the prawns will hypnotically cling to their bait.

After finally extracting PIC, we made it to the restaurant and proceeded to wolf down a bucket full of prawns. Bellies full, it was another Taupo day closed and off to the hotel for a melodious night of snores ahead.