🙂 Amazing geo thermic activity! Excellent Hangi!
🙁 Wet and cold!
Despite a few wrong turns we finally arrived in Rotorua. Went to Tourist Info and booked a concert and Hangi. Wen to Spud Shop. Had shower, bought film and laundered clothes. Set off to Rainbow Springs – which was a rip off…but we did see Kiwi Birds – very exciting.Loads of rainbow trout. Had tea and visited a friendly fishing shop. Showered – $5 each!!!! We were collected from the camp site by Taranaki Tours … despite our fears we actually thoroughly enjoyed the evening! Sincere and authentic portrayal of the Maori way of life. Good food and company…even though the pic looks cheesy!
Up early – mainly because Trent weed again! Tried our hand at trout fishing but it was too cold! Had breakfast and then set off to Waiputo. Lady Knox geyser blew at 10h30 (with a little help) …but all good. It is named after Lady Constance Knox, the second daughter of Uchter Knox, 15th Governor of New Zealand. The geyser is induced to erupt daily at 10:15 am by dropping a surfactant into the opening of the vent.
Saw Bridal Falls, Artist’s Pallette etc.
We then went to the Waikite thermal pools which were lovely and warm like a bath. Had lunch and recharged our battery. Headed to Whakarewarewa which are natural geysers.
Went to Hells’s Gate and then back to camp site where Paul resumed his efforts to trout fish… to no avail! Trent helped chop vegetables for our curry and we did school. Dinner and bed.
Another sleeping bag wee – these laundry bills are adding up!! Gave an American chap called Ryan a lift into town. Bought Trent shoes – impossible to find 5 year old’s walking shoes! Bought a few bits and bobs for hiking and called Nikki who had been expecting our call. She is from Zim and he is a Kiwi and we had met them in the UK. Too wet to walk so we had a delicious lunch in a Homemakers Cafe instead – cauliflower, broccoli cheese, lasagne, fish pie – YUM! Drove to Lake Rerewhakaaitu to a free camp site where we parked up. Did school while we had hot choc. Cold and rainy!
Woke up early and headed back to Rotorua to change Trent’s shoes. Stopped at Rainbow Mountain and made pancakes. Did a (long) circuit walk. Had toasted cheese and tomato sandwiches, hot chocolate and biscuits. Set off to Taupo – very touristy… next stop Huka Falls. COLD water! School stressful that evening as Trent not concentrating. Slept really well as exhausted! The next day we were heading off to do a much anticipated overnight trek centred upon three volcanoes –Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu – Tongariro National Park is home to some of New Zealand’s most dramatic landscapes…. SO excited!
Go to: New Zealand
