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Published: February 16th 2009
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After our first night away from the campsite and consequently having very little sleep, a lazy day was on the agenda. We decide to do something touristy and check out one of the geysers in Rotorua - apparently when you put soapy water in it, it shoots up 20 metres in the air - this was discovered when the local Maori where doing their laundry, back in the day. So we park up and do our best to avoid the coach loads of tour buses and scoot off to where we think this marvel of soapy water jets is. however, it appears that we should be at the Maori welcome - back near the entrance and have subsequently missed said geyser. Oh well - we wonder round checking out mud pools, fissures of steam and the odd geyser and decide that we're not that fussed about a large geyser anyway. Did one thing though and that's warmed us up - it was decidedly chilly that morning but after a walk around there, I was having to peel off layer - even my shoes were getting warm as the ground is so hot. Back in the van and heading out of town.
The Cooking Pool
The Maori cooked allsorts in here (eggs, watercress, people - anything they wanted to give a sulphur smell to - quite frankly, if I was given a plate of anything cooked in here, there would be NO WAY I'd eat it as it STINKS!) One thing we've noticed, in the few short days we've spent here is that there are a lot of roads that don't actually lead anywhere - I mean they lead to people's homes and little areas next to the lakes but then they just stop - dead ends. Quite strange. Anyway, we decide to head back to the lakes lying to the south of Rotorua (Oh God - just had Land Reg flashback - Noooooooooooooo!!) and try out a few more of these dead-end roads. We pull up in a small area used for launching boats which has a nice feel about it - just a couple of other 4x4 with boat trailers attached, a small childs playground and we park under some trees. I have a well earned rest on the settee and Paul makes me a cup of tea (we've got one of those kettles that whistles!) before going for a short walk about. He comes back smiling. Oh dear, now what? "You see over there where that car is parked? Well they are holding a car rally tonight for American muscle cars. They've already started the BBQ's and there's a lorry that they are using for a
Sunset at the green lake
I know I haven't mentioned it in the text but it is a lovely shot! stage." Oh great, we sure do pick 'em. However, the music that I can hear from the stage/lorry isn't too loud and I feel a much better vibe about the place so we decide to stay, bracing ourselves for loud music and drunken revellers. However, by 10.30, the music had stopped and the cars on display where leaving (you couldn't fail to hear the engines as they were all really loud) - result! The only thing we could hear was music coming from somewhere abit nearer and some girl yawping at the top of her voice and getting argumentative with a guy who sounded pretty quiet in comparison. This all faded into the distance for me and I was out like a light.
Next morning, we woke up to brilliant sunshine. Today, we were going to do some sunbathing, and other than that, sfa. What a plan! I nipped out to stretch my legs and noticed a van nearby van with the boot open and a girl and guy fast asleep with their heads near the edge. "When did they turn up?" I asked Paul. "Some time last night" was the reply. Paul also said that they were the
Me feeding our entourage
nearly bit me fingers off! ones playing music late and she was the girl talking at the top of her voice. No wonder they were unconscious. We had a leisurely breakfast (We'd bought a toaster the day before - a metal circle with some wires which you prop up slices of bread and you put on the gas hob to make toast! Genius!) and went for a walk on the beach and said "morning" to all the locals who were up and about. We came back and started packing up the van. Paul went to the gents which was next to the other van and came back to report that the couple were now awake and er having sex in the back of the van with the boot still open for all the world to see! He said he wasn't sure if they were when he walked past but this was confirmed when he heard her moan in a sexy-time kinda way... Nice, and next to the kids playground too. Ah well, guess you get allsorts on the campervan trail....
So we pack up, drove into town to get some petrol and then headed out to a DOC sight (which is "Department of Conservation"
Duck Lake
Or Lake Rerewhathingymebob as it's really known and apparently there are a few of their campsites dotted all over - they only have water and toilets but are about $6 a night (less than £2.50)). We find it - next to another lake and park up. As soon as we open doors and get out, we are besieged by ducks! Yep, this lake is more of a fishing lake (it's got a cracking name - Lake Rerewhakaaitu - I mean, how the hell do you pronouonce that??) - it's all muddy shores and bulrushes and ducks. Bless 'em. They gather round us like a welcoming commitee - but it's OK - I'm under no illusions. It's purely for selfish reasons that they are clamouring round us. But I make 'em wait.... Anyway, as it's lovely and hot, we get towels on the grass and get down to some serious sunbathing (with the ducks for company - they haven't given up on us just yet). A little while later, after lunch, we go for a stroll around the lake and then come back to do more sunbathing (it's a hard life isn't it?). We then have tea and go for another walk up the road to catch the
Us at Duck Lake
Paul had to run round to get here before the timer ran out and then his camera nearly fell in the water with the vibrations... sunset and then come back and tuck the ducks into bed. Bless their little beaks.
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