Day 71 - Rotorua

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Today I wanted to go white water rafting but their had been too much rain and they couldn't dam the river to control the water. Ate some award winning pies at a local bakery. Walked through a nearby park which contained areas of thermal activity with mud pools and hot ponds, then walked along the edge of Lake Rotorua. Watched some black swans swimming around on the lake near a Maori Church. Carried on walking around the Government Gardens on what is a very hot day. Visited the Polynesian Spa hot mineral baths for a long soothing soak in extraordinarily hot and soupy mineral rich water. I actually felt like my skin was much softer and the effect lasted for a few days. Louisa wasn't so lucky as the healing effects of the minerals and the long soak in hot water had bubbled up a patch of sunburnt skin, though it disappeared some time later. In the evening we went to a Maori show at the Park Heritage Rotorua Hotel where Louisa went on stage to demonstrate her poor Poi skills and I went on stage to stick my tongue out in a poor attempt at the Haka war dance. After we had a traditional Hangi prepared meal. All in all a great evening.

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