Day 5 - Rotorua

After arriving at the Holiday Inn, Rotorua we settled in, Mick went for a spa, while Mum had a na. Then we went out for an Italian meal in down town Rotorua. The portions were huge, and we were all stuffed when we returned to the hotel.

The next morning we were off to a slow start, deciding to go in to town for breakfast and to find a masseure, as Mick had a stiff neck since waking up in Auckland, and Mum's back was also sore. We then went to a shopping centre to get supplies for the rest of our drive.

Finally we made our way to Te Puia, a geothermal park which was not far from our hotel, which explained the peculiar fragrance in and around the hotel. Basically if smelt like a mixture of dog food, rotten eggs and bacon, depending on which way the wind was blowing.

Te Puia is one of the largest geysers in the Rotorua area as well as a Maori cultural centre. We took a guided tour that encompassed the Pohutu geyser, which shoots sulphurous water 30 meters into the air, as well as the stinky mud pools, kiwi enclosure (kiwi was asleep)  and Maori wood carving school (Maori not asleep). It was quite a hot day so we had a few breaks before hitting the gift shop and heading out for lake Taupo. 

A short but scenic drive through pine forests and farmland brought us to the wide flat city that is Taupo. The huge expanse of the lake and the mountains behind dominates the landscape of this touristy town. After unpacking in our hotel we relaxed with a beer and wine before walking into town for dinner at a wine bar with great food and terrible service.

We were all quite tired, and Mick was more than a little drunk when we got back, so we fell into our beds for a well earned sleep (and sleep in).