We especially enjoyed our last stop in New Zealand was Rotorua because we spent time with longtime friends Laurie and Paul. Since Paul was born in New Plymouth, they often spend Canadian winters in the New Zealand summer. Since our motel was near the Kuirau mud pools, and it happened to be Saturday when the public market was on, we met them there. It seemed exotic to be walking through gardens with delphinium in bloom, and encounter steaming pools of mud.
When their kids were young, they spent a year travelling around New Zealand and Australia. Paul remembers a family photo of the kids appearing, Gollum style, from the steam in the dead of New Zealand’s winter. Our visit was less spooky.
Together, we walked around town, and along the Rotorua lakefront boardwalk. The next day, we drove out to the Green and Blue Lakes, seeing the difference in colour between the adjacent lakes. I couldn’t see much difference, which is why I’m showing you only one. Nonetheless, the vegetation was abundant and the scenery beautiful.
On our own, Anita and I visited the Te Puia village, where we were welcomed with traditional Maori music and dance.
We were guided around the property and saw stunning geothermal activity.
We heeded the signs, and did not sit on any barriers.
While Anita went river rafting, I took a gondola up a hill and watched people whiz down on summer luges. Others enjoyed the mountain bike trails.
We also spent a day going to another set of glow-worm caves. I chose a conventional tour with a boat ride through a cave while Anita picked the Abyss tour with zip-lining and tubing the caves.
We also walked to the Natural Bridge and a cave.
On our final day, we took another walk around Kuirau Park before heading out to Kerosene Creek. It’s up a logging road, and is naturally very hot. It used to be a locals-only spot, and now it’s in the Lonely Planet guide. I’ve seen YouTube videos of it, so it’s not as secret as it once was. Regardless, it’s still magical to soak in a creek far away from buildings.
It was a wonderful trip. I’d like to see more — always the best way to end travels.
Juliette Knits 