TAUPO AND ROTORUA

From Napier I got the bus to Lake Taupo where I hoped to go skiing. Lake Taupo is New Zealand's largest lake. It was formed by one of the greatest volcanic explosions of all time. It is also hailed as the worlds trout fishing capital. When I arrived the weather was awful,it was pouring down with rain. Taupo is one of those places where it is beautiful when the sun shines but when it is raining in the winter there is not much to do.

I booked into the YHA ,then went for a walk around part of the lake. Later that afternoon I planned to book my ski trip at the nearby mountains for the next day. Becks, the receptionist ,was a very friendly girl from Liverpool. She sorted everything for me to go on the ski bus the next day and hire skis, poles and a ski pass.I was so excited at the prospect of finally going skiing. The snow chase would finally be over. I went to bed early because I knew it would be an early start in the morning to catch the ski shuttle up to the mountain ski resort. Even though there was torrential rain most of the night I was not disheartened because I assumed that the rain would have turned to snow higher up the mountain.
It was still raining very hard when I got up at five in the morning. I had a hearty
breakfast of egg sandwiches, because I would be using up so much energy skiing. So you can imagine my disappointment when the ski bus chap arrived and told me and two Irish girls that the conditions further up the mountain were really bad and there would not be any skiing that day!!!! It seemed I was destined not to ski in New Zealand!!
I was too wide awake to go back to bed so the three of us watched a DVD and waited until the reception opened.
There was no point in staying on here in Taupo any longer. I decided to book myself onto the bus that morning to Rotorua. At the same time I got a message from Stephanie and Jason to say that they were staying for three days in Rotorua and did I want to meet up? That was good timing.
When I arrived in Rotorua it was still raining. The Shuttle bus from the YHA came and picked me up. Rotorua is nicknamed the Sulphur City, because it has the most energetic thermal activity in the country, with bubbling mud pools,gurgling hot springs and gushing geysers and there is a horrible eggy smell hovering over the town because of the sulphur pools.
I decided to treat myself to a single room for a couple of nights rather than a shared dorm,so that I could chill out.

There was a thermal pool at the hostel, so I donned my costume and relaxed for an hour in the hotpool. Stephanie and Jason came to see me later in the afternoon. They liked the site, so they booked to bring their campervan there for the following night. I had booked to go on the Mouri meal that night. It was great fun. We ate Hangi, which is a traditional way of cooking food from the underground head.

They also showed us the ancient warrior canoe called a Waka, it was very impressive in the dark woods. We were then treated to a traditional cultural performance including a performance of the Haka(a war dance), before being taken on a nightime walk through the woods to see the glow worms and sacred springs of the Maori people.
In the morning I was picked up early to go to the 'Hells Gate', geothermal park.It is the most active Geothermal field in Rotorua.
I had managed to get a special winter deal negotiated by the YHA .It included a walk around the bubbling landscape, which to be honest was a bit unnerving at times and quite spectacular. There was a strong stentch of sulphur in the air and steam rising up from the extremely hot pools.

Years ago the Irish playright George Bernard Shaw looked in awe at the "Hell like" landscape and gave the reserve its famous name"Hells Gate".
And in stark contrast there is an area of lush green woodland with the largest hot water waterfall in the southern hemisphere.

At the end of the walk you are given the chance to carve out your own little wooden momento of the day. I chose the Maori symbol for mother and daughter. I will be sending it onto Sammie and I bet she will be underwhelmed!! But it was made with love!!
My package included a mud bath so I was then led into the mud baths where I bathed myself in the very hot muddy water for twenty minutes.They are very hot!!! (I felt like a boil in the bag rice!)

Then you have a very very very cold shower to wash the mud off, before they lead you through to another thermal pool to relax for another twenty minutes. After this you can have a warm shower.
I also got a half hour traditional Maori massage and some Manuka tea. It was a fabulous experience.But I did stink of sulphur when I finished!!!
Later in the day I went to the Gondola ride with Jason and Stephanie.

At the top there is a Luge so you can ride down Mt Ngongotaha. It was the first of its kind in the world. It was actually designed and built in Rotorua. The three wheel cart uses a unique breaking and steering system that gives the rider full control.
We went down three times. I was very nervous at firstWe did the scenic route first.Then
progressed onto the intermediate and finally the advanced, it was pretty scary in parts but I loved it.