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Published: March 11th 2007
We stayed in Rotorua for a few days, travelling down via Auckland...8 hours on a bus great! Our first impression hit us as soon as we walked off the bus...it smelled like rotten eggs! Rotorua is one of New Zealands most dynamic thermal areas hence the smell due to the release of sulphur...not particularly pleasant but it does mean lots of thermal pools in which to soak at the end of the day!
We checked into Spa Lodge Backpackers which featured it's very own thermally heated spa...probably the one redeeming feature, never mind, it was cheap!!
We visited Kuirau Park, a volcanic area which features a thermal lake (quite impressive!), pools of boiling mud as well as a few mineral pools. It really is surreal to walk across a bridge over a virtually boiling lake...can't really describe the feeling although I quess hot and sweaty would just about cover it!!!
We headed over to Ohinemutu, a small Maori village featuring architecture with elaborate carvings, including St Faith's Anglican Church...an interesting mix of Maori and European culture! There is also a glass panel with an image of Christ wearing a Maori cloak!
We took a scenic stroll around
Lake Rotorua ,which was formed by a volcanic erruption, before spending a couple of hours at the Polynesian Spa. This was a definate highlight with thermal pools ranging from 36 - 42 degrees, it was a good chance to relax.
Our second day was a little more chilled, we hit the shops for a couple hours before visiting the Rotorua Museum of Art and History to soak up a bit of the areas history and catch a couple of exhibitions...one was a room full of bras!! Quite unexpected!! We popped into Rotorua Art Village on the way and had a look at a small textile exhibition and chatted to a ceramicist firing up her kiln for a Raku firing...some things are the same wherever you are in the world!
A good couple of days which gave us the chance to relax and prepare ourselves for the next part of our journey...!
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Emma and Matt
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Rotarua
Thanks Katie - We're using your blog as a travel guide. Rotarua is where the wedding is - not sure I'm looking forward to the smell of eggs! Looks like you're having fun - we're not far behind you!