We arrived in Rotorua and checked in the Ambassador Thermal Motel. We actually have the front half of a cottage so our space is quite comfortable and our hosts are letting us use their computer free of charge! On Friday we did a walk about town, visited the Government Gardens and were amazed at the many steaming pools located in parks and throughout the town...lots of geothermal activity and also a very strong sulfurous smell! We found the Pig and Whistle a pub that Kate's kiwi friend recommended and the food was great!
On Saturday Jan. 12 after the local Sat. market, we headed to Waimangu Volcanic Valley. It was an amazing site with lots of steaming pools, crater lakes and colourful geothermal terraces. We hiked the Mount Haszard Trail to the top and got great photos of Lake Rotomahana in the distance. The climb was most challenging but we made it.
On Sunday Jan. 13 we did the Soundshell Market, a flea market of sorts and we also walked about the Ohinemeutu Maori village. We were welcome and could take some photos outside but not inside the buildings. Lots of carvings on their buildings, arches and enclosurers. After lunch we headed to the Whakarewarewa and Redwood Forest. We hiked the Quarry Lookout trail which took approximately 90 minutes but they forgot to tell us that it was uphill both ways :-). Then to end a really great day we took the Skyline Skyrides gondola to the top for a buffet dinner (and of course we ate too much) but got great photos of Mount Ngongotaha in the distance and Lake Rotorua in the foreground.
Tomorrow is our final day in Rotorua and we are heading to the Bay of Plenty. Then off to Wellington on Tuesday. Hopefully I can connect with my ipad then and send some awesome photos of our journey.
Hope all are well back at home. Send us an email if you want to update us ....comments welcome on the blog. Thanks Janna, Leah and Kylene!
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