This should have been the Tongariro Crossing Day, instead we find ourselves in Rotorua. We had plans to visit Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland to see the punctual geyser which blows at 10.15am every day.
Plans are blown out of the water as we check out of the hotel. The receptionist (a Maori lady) challenged our plans, as she put it - you are here for the Maori culture (we thought we'd done the culture in the Bay of Islands, see Cape Reinga) and the natural experience.
She suggested 'Te Puia' to see the natural geysers rather than the one pumped full of soap powder for the tourists. Good idea as this was right on the edge of town.
Her suggestion proved to be a good one. We saw the carving and flax weaving school; several natural geysers including the world famous Pohutu ( on a good day it can reach 30 metres in height); mud pools galore bubbling away at 95 degrees centigrade with only 4 metres between the magma and the mud and the guide was excellent.
An added bonus, we saw 2 Kiwi birds, one asleep and one awake, sadly they had known each other 2 years but no babies as yet.
An interesting fact for the day, why are New Zealanders referred to as Kiwis. Apparently in WW1 the New Zealand army needed a separate identity from the Australian army. It was noticed that the NZ army always polished their boots with the famous Kiwi shoe polish, hence the nickname Kiwis.
Second interesting fact, Kiwi polish is made in Australia.
We left Rotorua, later than anticipated and a brief detour to the Huka Falls was well worth it. The flow of the falls can fill an Olympic swimming pool in 12 seconds. An outflow from Lake Taupo and the start of the Waikato River, the longest river in New Zealand. Altogether the Waikato River is responsible for 15% of New Zealand's electricity.
Next iSite Taupo where we realised just how popular the Tongariro Crossing is, so many visitors from all nations keen to walk this 9 hour walk. Nicola was reassured that this trip the Crossing was a no go as it would be closed for the next 2-3 days at least as the rain set in.
We made plans for the next day, weather permitting to jet boat down the Wanganui River and booked accommodation at a ski lodge in Ohakune. Before leaving Taupo we popped into the Bungy site, where our neice Alice had worked for a year after finishing High School.
We drove in the pouring rain to Ohakune, went out for tea at The Powder Keg, very good value and as expected very quiet.