Rotorua and more Volcanos

Wednesday 26th February

Another day in Stinkirua, what  an interesting and fab place, so much  to see and do, we didn't know what to do next.  The whole place smells of sulphur eg rotten eggs and they say you get used to it.  I think I would have to be here longer to do that.... yuk!

Anyway  today we drove out to the Waimangu Volcanic Valley, totally different to yesterday.  In 1886 Tarawera Volcano erupted, and Lake Rotomahan exploded to twenty times it original size, and created 15 small craters which over the years filled with water.  Since then there have been a number of small explosions, but it is fairly quiet at the moment.

You walked down through the cater valley for 4 kms to the lake, passing loads of geothermal stuff and the most amazing forest, we the jumped on a small boat which pottered around the lake.

You know I said shoot me if  we did any more climbing Mount Doom, well today we saw a sign saying scenic hike, and yes we did it.  Up and over the top of the mountain down to Inferno Lake, which at certain times of the year turns into a lake of boiling sulphuric acid, ummm ya! but not today. But I have to say if I am not fitter after this holiday, I never will be, my butt is getting a workout.

We walked all together for about 3 years, brilliant and then a little boat ride and they kindly provided a bus back, as it is uphill all the way.

Boiling fountain from the boat

Rod hadn't liked the campsite, so we moved on this night to another, just as bad, not impressed with Rotorua accommodation, but then we are off tomorrow.

Off to smellirua

Tuesday 25th February

Sad to leave Taupo, but only a short drive up to Rotorua, but we stopped off at a fabulous thermal area called Orakei Korako. We spent about 2 hours walking around this amazing place.  It really shows you how small you are, and that you on only on this earth for such a small period of time.  Wonderful and amazing.

Here are some of the amazing pictures for you.

Catching the boat over to the start of the thermal area

We booked into our camp site, the 'Cosy Cottage'  park... ummmm.  But it was interesting.  As you walked around little tufts of steam came out of the bushes, and you could book heated tent sites! ummmm.  But it did have a steam cooker (hangi) using steam from the ground.... just like the Maori's.  We bought some salmon, steamed it, and I can quite easily say it was some of the best I have ever eaten.  

Maori carvings, Government Gardens Rotorua.

Lake Taupo

Monday 24th February

In the morning we went to see the Craters of the Moon.  It is a new thermal park and there wasn't really very much to see, but it was an introduction to what we would go on  to see in Rotorua.  The country side all around was very pretty, and weird to think that people live and farm directly on top of all this volcanic activity.

On the way back we saw a coach wedged up a driveway, most of the bottom of the coach works detached, and loads of people watching.  Obviously the most interesting thing to happen in town for a while and great fun to watch.

After that we went down into Taupo and walked around the lake and town.  Nice place and would come back anytime.  I quite liked the look of a float plane taking us for a trip over the thermal fields.... perhaps next time.

In the afternoon we drove around the lake as far as Turangi.  Not  much to see in Turangi, but the drive was beautiful.  This place gets put on my list for ever coming back.  Lake Taupo is the largest lake in NZ and I remembered it as being quite beautiful, but nothing else really.  It would be great to drive all around the lake sometime, The left hand side of it touches the Tongariro National Park and you can walk across the top.

I think we will both sleep well tonight

Napier to Lake Taupo

Sunday 23rd February

We left Napier to it's last day of the festival, we've probably had enough of cars and planes for a while, and also all those people, we've got used to a bit of peace and quiet.

Today we headed further north to Lake Taupo.   It was a straight journey ,up and the only stop was a short stroll to the Waipunga Falls.

We checked into our camp and had a look at what to do in the afternoon.  Taupo is famed for the Huka Falls and we had the choice of driving or a walk.  Janette thought a walk was a good idea! Shoot me if I make that suggestion again, as it was like climbing Mount Doom.  Not quite that bad, but it was a 3 hour round journey, up and down, and up and down.  But sort of worth the walk I suppose.  To make matters worse as walked down a guy came running past us, and on the way back he was still running, but back to town.  Show Off!   Anyway with sore feet and legs we hobbled back to the camp.

Huka Falls

Hot thermal pool by riverside

On the camp site there was a couple from Wiltshire, he was pretty quiet, mumbling in the background, and we soon found out why. Within minutes we knew she was the captain of the golf club and tennis club and, was probably the retired headmistress, as she was bossing everyone around and telling us how to cook brocolli.  She didn't like Lake Taupo, all very rustic and full of take aways, but Napier was lovely Darling! Towns in NZ are not all like a National Trust Village. She then asked where we were from, Oh yes Fleet, I know Fleet, one of our daughters used to live in Camberley.  Yes Fleet is like Basingstoke used to look like 30 years ago!  at that point Rod grabbed the back of my collar and dragged me away, before I head butted her.  Stuck up old boot, why do people like that travel, they should stay in their little upper crust village and annoy their neighbours.  I could then understand why her husband was so quiet, and at this point he walked away.  Old bat.

By the way when we went into Taupo, it was a lovely place on the lake.

Art Deco Weekend in Napier

Art Deco Saurday

More of the same today, loads of people dressed, they look fab, cars everywhere and planes overhead.  Jazz bands playing on every street corner.  It was about 32 degrees c today, must have been awful when you were fully togged up.  A great fun day, feet hurt by the end of it, and don't want to see another classic car for quite a while.