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Published: March 3rd 2007
After leaving Wellington, it was on to Rotorua, or as it should be known "The Stinkiest City of Earth". Due to its thermal energy and bubbling springs, the town smells like rotten eggs. However, it is a tourist mecca due to the fact that the springs are quite amazing and some of them shoot up to 40 meters. Rotorua is like Harrison Hot Springs on steroids, that has bred like a rabbit. There are springs everywhere. We must have seen at least two dozen. The springs started to dissapear a few decades ago as builders were using the geo-thermal heat to reduce the energy bills on new properties. The government has since banned this practice within 2 kms of the springs and all is slowly returning to normal. We finished our stay off by spending our Friday night in the Polynesian baths overlooking lake Rotorua.
The next stop was Waitomo Caves. There's nothing in Waitomo except for the glow-warm caves. Unfortunately, we don't have any photos of the inside as they weren't allowed but it was an impressive sight and is the spot to see glow-warms in New Zealand. I felt like I was in the middle of an Indiana
Jones movie.
After seeing the caves, it was time to get out of Waitomo, so we spent the better part of a day on a bus to Paihia, near the very tip of the North Island. It's the jumping off point for tourists for the Bay of Islands. It reminded me a little of the White Rock waterfront. Very picturesque and I found a great ice cream shop that served the best sundaes ever.
We were a little over the island cruises so we decided to go on the New Zealand invented jet boat. With dual 800hp engines, this boat would be Tim Taylor "Home Improvement" fantasy come true. Unforuntely (although Megan begs to differ), the water was flat as could be so we didn't get to get thrown too much. We went through the aptly named "Hole in the Rock", before getting dropped off at an island where we subsequently sun-tanned and got burnt before returning home to Paihia.
We're now resting up for a night in Auckland before heading to Bangkok, Thailand. Staying for two or three nights in a city and then moving on becomes tiresome. We both felt that we got a good
Excitor jet boat
Dual 800 hp engines glimpse into New Zealand life in our four weeks here. The highlights are many but I'd put the Routeburn Trek, Milford Sound, Kayaking in the Abel Tasman at the top of my list. All three of those happen to be found on the South Island.
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shirley collins
non-member comment
from Vancouver, B. C.
Thank-you John, for taking time in your travels to share your journal with us out there in cyberspace! Your photos are exquisitely beautiful and I enjoy the text that accompanies them. It is a bonus to meet Megan this way and also to hear after Jill and her new Austtralian family and what your Mom enjoyed. We are home from running a 2 day Highland dance Open Competition at Magee Highschool. It was great to sit down and read your letter. Happy travelling. Love, Cousin Shirley