Rotorua

Rotorua from Google Earth, next to the lovely Lake Rotorua

On our travels we decided to spend a couple nights in Rotorua on New Zealand's North Island, the main purpose of this was so we could get a bus pick up for trip to the volcanic island White Island. Sadly, the trip was cancelled due to the only bad weather we had the whole time we were in New Zealand! 

But all was not lost and we found a way to entertain ourselves by visiting Wai-O-Tapu volcanic park (Official Website), which was a fantastic day out packed with volcanic features like geysers, craters and acid pools. It was pretty decently priced too, which was handy as we were starting to run out of funds, NZ isn't a cheap place! 

We were pretty glad we gave Rotorua a chance in the end as it was surprisingly fun with the cheap Dominoes and trips to the cheerfully priced Pack'n'Save, although I will warn you if you don't like the smell of eggs then the sulphur smell in the air might overwhelm your poor nose, I love eggs and it was a bit much for me at times :P

Other than the volcanic park and one of many of New Zealand's Pak'n'Saves, the town was actually quite nice with a geothermal foot bath at the coach station, a beautiful lake and some lovely old buildings to see :)

Of course I got down to some happy photo snapping so I have a few good ones for you...Enjoy!

Champagne pool (Volcanic pool), you wouldn't want to drink this stuff, it was boiling hot and very smelly! (Wai-O-Tapu volcanic park)

The amazing geothermally heated foot pool at the coach station, I didn't actually try it out though sadly.

Devil's Bath, a lovely sulphurous volcanic pool! (Wai-O-Tapu volcanic park)

The beautiful lake Rotorua, complete with swan :)

The coolest photo ever :) Taken next to Champagne Pool. (Wai-O-Tapu volcanic park)

I'm still obsessed with the fact that swans are black down under :P

One of the lovely raincoats you can purchase from the volcanic park. (Wai-O-Tapu volcanic park)

Crazy geyser man. (Wai-O-Tapu volcanic park)

Geyser going off without crazy man. (Wai-O-Tapu volcanic park)

Some lovely bubbling mud. (Wai-O-Tapu volcanic park)

Very smelly crater! (Wai-O-Tapu volcanic park)

A Sulphurous stream. (Wai-O-Tapu volcanic park)

Champagne Pool once more. (Wai-O-Tapu volcanic park)

So that was our brief trip to the lovely town of Rotorua, make sure you visit, the smell isn't to be missed even by the squeamish.

Peace

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