Alpin Motel Rotorua

... allowance, but that doesn't mean we leave empty-handed! That's Wendy's b'day pressie sorted out from me, and several friends Xmas pressie sorted out from her!

Leaving Hwy 1 at Tirau, we joint Hwy 5 for Rotorua, which is another hour down the road. It's single lane, but it's a 100km/h blast over wooded hills the whole way with no holdups. At first sight Rotorua is very American, with the highway dotted with MaccyD's, KFC's and the like, but we ...

... the conversation with a native New Zealander—and a Maori at that—was quite special. We discussed issues like race, happiness,education, nature, and other important aspects of life—all while carving, sanding, and lacquering. Ben even picked up the guitar and serenaded us with some tunes while we worked. What is more, after we finished our mud bath and mineral ...

... i run oot of air. And he did...there was once, it seemed to take a while and i was aboot to pull my skirt oot and exit but it's all good...so there was defo a fear factor (my fear seems to have increased as i get older). as well as pure adventure. I loved it. But defo need more stength and practice before i go on my own.

Next, i went to a Maori dinner and dance. There are apparently 70 different tribes in the north ...

... and well I've been harnessed walking up the Harbour Bridge in Sydney. We're just being extravagant and spending all round us with little care looking for the next buzz. In fairness, the poor folk on the bus don't begrudge us one bit of anything - they're all enthusiastic for us. If it were me I'd be cursing us more affluent backpackers. Like when you walk passed a restaurant you can't afford and see people walking in to get fed and watered - you ...

... Lake Rotorua, which is actually a spent volcano that has filled over the years. On the lake there are many trout fishing tours available as there is a large abundance since the fish was introduced in the 1800's as there was not enough food found naturally. We stayed at the Thermal Holiday Park campsite which was probably the nicest site we had stayed in, which had its very own natural hot pools. These were up to 40oC which were just on the edge of being ...

... spinning an all sorts, shame there hasnt been much rain and the level is low, as we didnt get a chance to surf the raft. Even without the surfin, we had a fab day. Miss Nikon managed to get her kayak safely through all of the rapids ahead of us and with her camera intact she got some great pictures. Thanks to her , we have a couple to include in the blog.Later, back on dry land, we found out there have been 2 fatalities on this stretch, which goes to ...

... We get back to town so that we can borrow a spade and attempt the hot water beach idea again. we enter the beach and turn right (note the mistake) and spend 20 minutes digging a large hole to get tepid water again ahaha. we head to the other side of the beach and dig again this time the water is to hot to stand in. At last we have found the water we were seeking however there is a downside and bieng by the ...

... one coach ticket back to Hamilton and get a new one. Well, it just isn't logical or rational, but there you go, that's what peer pressure does to you in that quite a few people I've met in Rotorua have all said that I really must do it, I can't not etc etc. Not that all these folk had jumped themselves, but I'm sure they were well meaning! So basically the question turns around on itself, it's not 'how could you do it?', it's more 'How could you not do it ...

... up and by the time we got there the sun wsa going down and we got a nice view of the town. We sat up there for about 20mins and drank some beers then headed back to town with a torch in hand and picked up some food. Back to the hostel and chill out that night before our final stop at Auckland!

... Taupo so it was for a good cause. The rest of the afternoon was spent in this free Geothermal park near where the hostel is. It was weird, all these pools just bubbling all over the place, some were muddy and some were boiling water and acid - really dangerous. Our bus driver told us on our way into Rotorua that people can wake up in the morning and they will have one of these pools in the middle of their gardens - random. As ...