Thermal Ambassador Motel Rotorua

... amazed by all the colours and various activity(smell was not great though). Really cool crystal formations around vent and the champagne pool was awesome. Bathed in kerosine creek hot springs and met a really nice kiwi family. Drove part way up Mt Tarawera, but turned back as the signs got more serious about private property. Made camp at Lake Rerewhakaaitu.

As it was dark when we came in last night, it appeared there was just a little park out the balcony but sunrise today showed that it was a full racing track with someone out for an early morning run.  We raced down to breakfast downstairs before backtracking to the Thermal Highway south of Rotorua.

... jump out into the water. Our instructor joked to us that a waterfall was coming so I can imagine it was a funny but highly unattractive scene for those watching us panicking and trying to lift ourselves back into the raft! Eventually I was pulled back in. After we had finished we got a group photo then headed back. By the evening the jaigerbombs were flowing and the banter was on top form. 'Sweeet as bro!'

... me up and I in turn pulled an English guy up onto the raft which is quite big compare to me. I am not indirectly say I am strong....haha....serious. There end our rafting trip. If those who want a longer trip, you could try the Wairoa River flooded by Hydroelectric plant 25 times only a season. Every Sunday I think, it will be a good one too creating some of the best rapids in the area. Who knows I might be back to do the ...

... white water and yellowy crystals on the banks. The whole town smells eggy due to the geothermal stuff going on so we just got on with it and ate our lunch by the stinky lake. We saw some cool bubbling vents with boiling water and mud down there, very scary what the earth can do. A kid ran past us and gashed his foot right open on a broken bottle so Lucy played paramedic and gave him a bit of tissue ...

... but we eventually found it. The creek was about 8 feet across and really was quite warm. Think of hot tub temperature water. It is called Kerosene Creek because that is exactly how the water smelled due to the sulfur content. We spent about an hour soaking in the water before getting out and heading back on the highway. We reached the Belcaster's house in Tauranga at about 6pm or so. I jumped in the shower to get the stink off of me. Later that night ...

... I spied didn't look quite in the mood for talking much.. but it gave me some time to recharge abit as all I've been doing is meet new people and although I'm in my element, it's nice to have afew hours to yourself.. even if that is on a public bus!! So Rotorus doesn't smell as bad as everyone makes out! The odd waft of rotten eggs but it's ok. When I got to the hostel I had to shower and get ready for my Tamaki Maori ...

... outside, so we were panicking
when we actually stepped foot into our Toyota Camry, and everything was
on the opposite side! Lu said he'd done this before... but that was a
scooter in Bahamas, so it doesn't count! He was actually having a mini
freakout, just trying to get out of the parking lot in the rain and
dark ...

... moeite stond er uiteindelijk iemand op. Onze 'chief' moest de welkoms ceremonie uitvoeren. Hierbij wordt bepaald of je in vrede komt of niet en werd besloten met het twee keer aanraken van de neus en adem te halen. Belangrijk was dat we de maori's niet mochten uitlachen on nadoen!! Goed, uiteindelijk werden we natuurlijk uitgenodigd in hun village waar ze en aantal originele hutten hadden na gebouwd. Hier was even de gelegenheid foto's te maken voordat we in hun 'welcome ...