New Zealand 13 - Rotorua to Taupo

After two days in Rotorua it was time to head for Taupo.  

We had picked a few stops, the first  was at the Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland. We had visited Waiotapu before -  it rained.  This time we were a little luckier.

This is probably the most colourful of the geothermal attractions and it is very popular.

There are two distinct elements to the park.  The core walk is mainly around a rocky area with large craters, some with boiling water on the surface, others with steam rising ominously from the depths, and many different colours from different minerals.

The centre piece is the artist’s palate, coloured lake.  

The extended walk follows various watercourses.  The streams and lakes are a kaleidoscope of colours. 

The only downside is since our last visit part of the circular path has closed making parts very congested, with people walking both ways.

It started drizzling and this caused thick steam to rise from the artist’s palate - you could hardly see in the hot mist.

The final pool was a bit discoloured by the minerals.

Unfortunately the weather deteriorated.  We probably spent more time over coffees than any other time on the holiday.

Bee world was the next stop. This was a fabulous spot, dedicated to all things bees.  And probably the biggest selection of different honeys in one place I will ever see.  I have never been much of a honey-eater but could really get the taste based on the honeys I got to taste that day.

Haku Falls are not high, but very powerful.  110,000 litres a minute - enough water to fill an olympic size swimming pool in 11 seconds.

The river is forced into a much narrower gorge.  The falls are where the water leaves the gorge into a wider channel.  It is unusual that the water in the falls  probably travels further horizontally than it falls.

Being New Zealand there are jet boats at the falls!

Taupo was a nice little town, we had a walk round in a drizzle but then, it rained very very heavily.  And it was time for cheese on toast and beers in the motel.

The following morning, I had a walk along the lakefront.  There was a wonderful view over the lake to the mountains.  There were plenty of inviting eateries that we would have eaten at in better weather.  

And some interesting artwork.

The final view from Taupo

New Zealand 12 - Rotorua

We visited Rotorua in 2018.  It was torrential rain all the time we were there.  Despite that, it was the place I most wanted to revisit.  

The first morning was spent touring round some of the lakes in the region.

And a walk along the Okere Falls, this is a pleasant walk alongside the river with multiple drops and rapids.  

On the way back to Rotorua we went on the Redwoods Walk.   A treehuggers delight.  An aerial walkway suspended between mature redwood trees.  For the most part these were planted around 100 years ago, so big but not California Redwood big.  

But there was a cross section of a tree that was over 2,000 years old.

Rotorua is associated with the geo-thermals, and the next day we saw a few.

Waimangu Volcanic Valley was formed after an eruption in 1886.  It is a fascinating place as you follow water down the valley.  

There are several lakes, and flat areas where the minerals and algae have coloured the rocks.  

When we arrived there were few people and they were well spread out.  The valley is not particularly developed, and the vegetation changes along the valley.  The valley felt very natural and unspoilt.  

After a couple of hours walking we reached the end of the valley where it reached the lake - and caught a bus back to the car park

After the valley there was the mud pool.  Gas is constantly bubbling through the hot liquid mud, making some quite “interesting” sounds.  There was a mist ver the pool and getting downwind really cleared the sinuses!  It was one of those times I was happy to have a terrible sense of smell!

Back into Rotorua we went on a walk to the lake via Kuirau Park.  This is a geothermal park that would be a major feature almost anywhere else, in Rotorua it’s just a public park.

And then at the lake it was  a visit to the Polynesian Spa.  I found my favourite pool, a 40 degrees alkaline pool, where I basically cooked but with great views over Lake Rotorua.