Rotorua – Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland – Feb. 11, 2007

We got to Rotorua and enjoyed a nice dinner on a sidewalk cafe. The next morning we had a great breakfast at the Fat Dog Cafe where Jess had a french toast tower with fruit and maple and Jonathan had pancakes with maple and cream (sorry Meghan, no pictures but we will keep it in mind for the next time!). We made a harried trek to the Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland to make it in time for the Lady Knox Geyser eruption at 10:15. It was us and about 200 others running to make it time. Turns out it is just some park employee who gives a little schpiel and pours biodegradable soap in the hole and the geyser goes up. Still pretty amazing. The soap reacts with the water in the underground reservoir and the more water, the higher the geyser.

Afterwards, we went to the thermal wonderland (cheesy name but absolutely beautiful) where we saw steaming craters, bubbling mudpools, sulphur chimneys, thermal pools and even a boiling hot waterfall. The big attractions were the Champagne Pool and Artist’s Palette.

Afterwards, we headed for Lake Taupo where we made several stops along the way. The first place was New Zealand Woodcraft. Here we met the really friendly woodturner, Chris Guy, who is a pilot and aerial photographer as well. He had beautiful pieces that ranged from $40 to $7500. Next stop were the crystal blue Huka Falls.

Then we headed to our holiday park where the receptionist clued us in on a local spot. It was a thermal park that had thermal waterfalls flowing into the Waikato River where you could swim or just relax. We hiked down the trail and enjoyed about an hour of relaxing. Finally, we headed to the Lake for dinner where we had an excellent sunset display.

Tomorrow we are booked for a skydive. Let’s hope the weather cooperates! Cheers!

~ by jboehman on February 11, 2007.