Rotorua

Rotorua is only an hour drive from Mount Maunganui and you can smell it before you see it!  The area is known for its bubbling mud pools, shooting geysers and natural hot springs. There is definitely a hint of "rotten egg smell" everywhere you go.  Even as I type this blog post, it smells like someone keeps passing gas in our hotel room!  Ha! 

We started the morning by driving to Lake Rotorua and Government Gardens.  Lake Rotorua is the second largest lake on the North Island and lies in a caldera.  It was formed from the crater of a large volcano and continues to be a source of geothermal activity.  You can see clouds of steam rising around the shore.  There is a nice walk through Government Gardens which takes you along the shore of Lake Rotorua.  Part of the path passes through Sulfur Point where you can see the water change from blue-green to almost a white color.  

We spent the remainder of the afternoon at the Polynesian Spa, a natural mineral bathing spa, sitting on the shores of Lake Rotorua.  There are several pools you can sit in which all have different temperatures.  We spent our time bouncing around each pool and (hopefully!) soaking up some good healing and wellness minerals!  It was very relaxing - they even had geothermal heated chairs to lay out in if you needed a break from the pools. 

Thursday morning, we arrived early at Wai-o-tapu Thermal Wonderland.  Wai-o-tapu is one of New Zealand's natural volcanic parks and from the carefully laid paths and boardwalks we could see colored hot springs, steaming ground pools, and huge volcanic craters.  

Devils Ink Pots

Artist's Palette

Lake Ngakoro Waterfall

Mud Pools

Devil's Bath - Yes, this is the actual color!  The electric green color is caused by deposits of sulphur which rise to the surface and float on top.

We then drove over to Lady Knox Geyser which explodes every day at 10:15am.  The geyser actually explodes with help from a staff member who works there.  The staff member pours non-residue soap powder into the geyser and then two minutes later it erupts!  This was determined after convicts several decades ago were washing their clothing in the hot water and the geyser exploded from the soap powder!  It was a bit odd to see the forced eruption, but was entertaining nonetheless!

Pouring in the soap!

Our last stop of the day brought us to Kerosene Creek.  Kerosene Creek is geothermally heated from a natural spring under the earth which rises to meet the cool waters of the creek, thus creating perfectly warm water to bathe in.  Alex and I spent over an hour relaxing in the creek!

We ended the evening at the Rotorua Thursday Market listening to live music, eating from the wide range of food trucks and browsing through the craft tables.  We really enjoyed our time in Rotorua, specifically our afternoons spent bathing in the hot pools.  It was a rare and perfect opportunity to relax in such a beautiful setting.