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Published: January 20th 2007
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Today we are moving onto Rotorua along the thermal highway. There is a geyser which spouts water at 10.15am (with a little help from a guide and some Organic soap) its bound to be a tourist trap, but well you kinda have to! We got packed up and everything dried out and got on the road in plenty of time - which was novel! Arrived at the Waiotapu Thermal wonderland with plenty of time to spare so grabbed a coffee, checked out a bubbling mud pool, as you do, before heading to the Lady Knox Geyser. With the aid of some soap it did its thing allowing us to then explore the rest of the park. Its an amazing, steaming multi coloured, noxious smelling place and well worth a visit for something out of this world. Lots of acidic lakes and steaming fumeroles. Lunch was some tuna sarnies in the carpark - classy!
After lunch we set off to Rotorua, the north islands answer to Queenstown, with a bit of sulphur thrown in for free! We have managed to find some room at the 'Cosy Cottage International Holiday Park' which has some thermal pools, swimming pool and a Hangi -
a thermal steam cooker - both intrigued although worried the food might come out smelling of rotten eggs! We wandered up to town to take a look around - Paul also realised that there is a spot on the camera which looks like it might be on the CCD. The first camera shop was pants but Rob in Batchelors was amazing - unfortunately it looks like warranty of the camera is for NZ only so might have a problem unless we can sort it out before we leave. A new one is being couriered up from Dunedin so we have been really lucky. Its also Beck's birthday tomorrow so Paul ( never a willing shopper!) had to run around town trying to get something sorted out. Trying to get something nice, which would fit into the bag, was useful at the moment and would not break the bank was a bit tricky but he did manage to find a few things.
Wandered down to the thermal lake, but the ants were out in force and they were biting so we abandoned that and sat back at the accomodation with our feet in the thermal pool for a while -
as you do! Dinner was a thai green curry - still trying to use up the curry paste as am not too sure the airline would we happy for us to transport it internationally. Ended the day with a discussion of what the big day should entail tomorrow.
Beckies Birthday aka Princess Day!
Both woke up fairly early, one of us fairly excited. Paul managed to find a tiara for Beck to wear for the day so it was duly presented and donned. Beck decided that for breakfast she wanted Meringues, greek Yoghurt and Strawberries (or off with his head - you get the jist!). Paul managed to find all of this adding the finishing touches of a few candles and a glass of bubbles.
Spent the rest of the morning using the thermal spa at the camp site and not much else. After an excellent BLT for lunch we headed out for a bit of shopping before onto the Rotorua walking tour as laid out by the Lonely Planet guide. It took us past some of the historic older buildings, through the parks and along the lake near some black swans. As always it was a good
way to spend a few hours and a good way to see the town from a different perspective.
After a quick change back at the shack it was onto the Pig and Whistle (a pub in a Police station - whatever next!) and onto Bistro 1284 for some dinner. We have not eaten out for a couple of weeks now so it was great to be out and sample some of the local food. Headed back shortly afterwards so Beck could call her Mum and finished the day with a couple of glasses of wine we picked up in Margaret River, Australia, what feels like a long time ago!
Both slept well last night after all the booze! Woke up feeling a bit groggy and it took us a while to get going. Spent the morning just sorting ourselves out- Beck dyed her hair as its taken on a few new shades recently and she wanted to get it all one colour. Bacon sarnies for lunch - this time with Onion Marmalade (one to get at home - by Watties which looks to be the same as Heinz)
Have seen a leaftlet for some Mountain Biking in
the local forest so we set off in search of the bike hire shop situated in the car park. Got our selves kitted up with bikes and helmets before heading out into the forest. There are stacks of man made, single track trails here and they are all colour coordinated into difficulty ranges, a bit like skiing pistes. Spent a really good few hours whizzing (and puffing) around the trails - it was great fun and well set up.
Headed into town after the excertions of the afternoon to pick up Pauls camera as it has come in from Dunedin, so we can head off now tomorrow. Back at the holiday park we had another BBQ and decided to give the green lipped mussles a go which are a local delicacy. Had this with some salmon steaks and veggies. The mussles are huge, very fresh and much better on the BBQ than we had imagined; they even had an inbuilt timer as they open up their shells when cooked!
Were planning on spending a few hours catching up wih the travel blog, but got distracted by a UK programme about a lady who has lost 5 stone and
was having an extreme makeover (plastic surgery and everything) to look good in her bikini. It was really interesting to see what they did to her and she did look better at the end -unfortunately it meant our internet time was gone! Seem to be lots of UK programmes here - they even show Coronation St.
Its really busy here tonight as everyone seems to be getting away for the weekend and the weather is pretty good. We also think the kids have broken up for their summer holidays, which is odd for us as its nearly xmas. Ear plugs definitely needed tonight!
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