Rotorua
Trip Start
Jun 13, 2006
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143
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Trip End
Jun 12, 2007
Rotorua,
New Zealand
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
The first thing that hits you about Rotorua is the sulphur smell, i.e. rotten eggs, fortunately you soon get used to it. The second thing to hit us was the drizzle, it did let up some of the time we were there but only to full on chuck it down. We haven't had a weather like this for a long time.
We headed to Wai-O-Tapu (sacred waters) Thermal Wonderland, which despite the cheesy name was really good. It would have been even better without the rain and Dean singing "Walking in a Thermal Wonderland" constantly! We arrived in time to see the Lady Knox Geyser erupt which they set off daily at 10.15 by putting soap in the funnel
Rotorua 01
. The soap reduces the waters surface tension between the hot and cold water chambers below ground causing the eruption. It was discovered by prisoners tasked with clearing the land who used the naturally hot water to clean their clothes and when they added the soap got an unexpected surprise. You actually get really close to the geyser, so although it isn't as large as some other geysers it is really impressive.With everyone else who arrived to see the geyser we then went to see the rest of the park, but it wasn't as crowded as we had feared. There are many steaming craters some with mud bubbling at the bottom but the highlight is the Champagne Pool, a steaming blue pool edged with a bright orange ledge, really stunning. The sinter coated waterfall is also pretty spectacular, think of the build up of wax around a candle stick but move it to a waterfall. The thing that really blew me away was the Devils Bath, which lives up to is hyperbolic name being a bright green-yellow that you can't believe can exist naturally.
After the delights of Wai-O-Tapu we headed to a traditional Maori Hangi, which is a meal steam cooked underground, traditionally in this area over the thermal vents. First of all there was a display of traditional Maori songs, dances and weaponry. It was really interesting to watch and very energetic, I felt knackered and I was sat in the audience, there was also lots of naked tattooed bums which always helps pass the time! The food was great and plentiful, lamb that just fell apart. The evening was rounded off with a walk through the grounds which were full of glow worms and a giant eel. All good fun and well worth money.
Off to Art Deco Napier next.
