Our first "trip" away! To Rotorua and Hobbiton (almost)
On a glorious Sunday we decided that it was a good time to take the waters, rejuvenate ourselves with the anti-aging qualities of the alkaline Rachel Spring and the joint repairing qualities of the acidic Priest Spring. Yep, we headed down to the Hydrogen Sulphide capital of New Zealand to dip in the mineral rich springs. Can you see how much younger we look?
Swimming costume poses were of course barred - more for the fear of dropping the phone in a pool than the modesty of the actors - so these do look rather tame. But we almost had the place to ourselves, as most of the town was at a cultural music festival that we had wandered into earlier.
It too was brilliant, and rather than being a staged event for tourists, was a community celebration that we felt honoured and privileged to be able to witness. The singing was amazing. And we would probably have stayed longer if it wasn't for the fact we were being burned to a crisp - what with no shade and forgotten hats!
The town does smell a bit in places, it being on a centre of geo-thermal activity which means bubbling mud pools in public parks, hydrogen sulphide in the atmosphere, geysers that shoot skywards regularly and presumably one day there will be some sort of seismic eruption (again). But there has been a settlement here for some 700 years and a spa for may decades, so I guess we are ok for now (fingers crossed).
And, with dozens of places to eat, drink and be merry, right outside our hotel, we were not only rejuvenated by spa waters but also a fiery Indian curry and a decent bottle of Kiwi Merlot on Sunday night.
On the way down we, in the tradition of biker tours, had wandered off the beaten track to find our late morning elevenses stop. The Hopin Stopin Cafe provided for that superbly - although we might have made a slight error in ordering two muffins. But the coffee was excellent and we were ready to go again.
Just south of Rotorua is a wonderful redwood forest. We eschewed the delights of the canopy walkway with the crowds and found ourselves in the peaceful dales only a hundred or so metres from the car park. We could be back in California.
And so Monday came, and having turned ourselves to prunes the day before we opted to stay dry and head for the bubbling mud pools, steaming lakes and (part of the) village walk of Whakarewarewa.
Couldn't quite bring ourselves to do the guided version - I somehow feel too much like a voyeur and the prepared demonstration of Maori singing and dancing would have felt like a pale imitation of yesterday's event. And so we just about had the place to ourselves so, other than seeing no actual gushing geyser (we have been lucky enough to have seen those elsewhere), it couldn't have been better.
Probably not wise to take dip in here
And so back "home" through the rolling hills of The Shire only an hour north of Rototua, the movie set for Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. And almost on our route back to Auckland.
Horror and shock, it was fully booked for the next week, so we could only grab coffee in the Prancing Pony cafe (it wasnt actually called that - it was called the ... Cafe (no imagination these Tolkien fans!) and sample the utter tat in the Little Shop of Lothlorien. Wasn't called that either - but it was full of junk only a dyed in the wool Hobbit fan would want. That occupied us for a whole 30 seconds.
So I never got my second breakfast, hobbit style. But it's not that far, so you never know, next time we are down this way... (can't believe we would have to book ahead though!)
And so we are back in Mairangi Bay. Having had a bit of rain on our way back yesterday, we are again greeted by blue skies, no wind and a temperature in the mid 20s. I think it might be a beach day! So, last few pics from our weekend away (because we just needed a holiday!)
Symmetry! All this activity requires a lie down.
The rather lovely Government Gardens in Rotorua
Who needs Google when you can get all the info you need from a napkin dispenser in the George Brewing Bar!
The treewalk we didn't go on
A warm fuzzy glow after 2 hours in a hot pool!
And the obligatory selfie!
Me and my friend
Its all about me!
We had a lovely stop at Rotorua while on a cruise about 15years ago. Lucky enough to have many stop between both Island, including Dunedin. Paul is happy to say he has been to a Dunedin south or the equator and one north, (50) miles from our home Dunedin Florida.
Doesn't look like there is much to do down there!!!!
Looks fantastic - not sure you'll come back.