Exploring New Zealand on Foot: Hot Springs, Cold/Hot Streams, Sulpher Lakes and More...

We are currently in Rotorua and loving it. While the weather has been a big change from the Bay of Islands we are very much enjoying it and so is our skin. We are officially no longer burnt...yaaa! Our first morning in Rotorua started off by taking a small half day tour to see the geological sites. A local Maori man, Wiitux, was our tour guide but more importantly just a fun, positive, up-beat person to spend 4 hours with. First we went to a sulphur pool named Champagne Pool. I have never seen water so aqua yet so pale at the same time with a white rim around the entire lake. Very beautiful. Then it was off to a local mud pool to scoop some mud to use later in the day. The smell of hard boiled eggs filled the air. Before putting this mud to use we stopped at a little creek. This was no ordinary creek. Half of the water was hot while the other half cold. We stepped in one side of the creek and the water felt cold but when moving 5 feet over the water felt like a hot tub. Very neat. Then it was off to a natural hot spring, Kerosene Creek. A little rushing creek created a small waterfall which is where we decided to soak under. The water again felt like a hot tub and was very relaxing. This concluded the end of that tour.
If all of that wasn't enough adventure, Ben and I decided to head up to a local gondola and partake in the luge. Ben questioned if it would rain and I reassured him it wouldn't. Once up the mountain via a gondola we got on our first luge and went racing down the hill. What a thrill! Once at the bottom both Ben and I remarked about what a liability this place could be. It is obvious that suing people isn't the way of life here like it is in the US. We did 2 more runs. On our last run it was pouring rain (apparently I was wrong about the rain) and our brakes felt a little iffy which led to us maneuvering a bit slower than the first two runs.
Today Ben and I went our separate ways. I viewed a movie and enjoyed a relaxing day at a local spa (Thanks Ben for the birthday gift) while Ben visited Hobbiton. This spa was no ordinary spa. First I went through 4 different hot spring pools (each increasing in temperature) for an hour and then it was off to half hour of massaging and another half hour of drinking herbal tea and relaxing. What a wonderful gift. Ben took a 40 min (each way) trip to view Hobbiton and lucked out with missing the rain. Overall we each had a great time.
Oh and our hostel here in Rotorua is quite amazing. Fun, young atmosphere, music always playing and wonderful rooms! Tomorrow we are hopefully off to find some Glow Worms!
~ The Traveling Duo