In Rotorua we had a bit of trouble getting on the Kiwi Bus as its so busy at the moment, but in the end they squeezed us on and we headed off to Waitomo.

Waitomo is a secluded spot and we found it very tranquil staying in a really nice hostel lodge (Kiwi Paka) with fab views over the balcony where we had our first taste of New Zealand cider. After a good nights sleep we headed out to do some Black Water rafting in the caves around Waitomo. It was really fun and we got to see the glow worms glowing bottoms, jump off a couple of waterfalls, and sit in a rubber tube in the pitch black floating through the caves - very recommended!! After some nice warm soup and a baguel (apparently its supposed to represent the tube we sat in...) we hopped on the bus across to Taupo.

Our first night out in Taupo was a bit heavy so the next day we had a nice lie-in, walked up to the natural thermal spa in the river that leads to the Haka Falls, and had a nice dip with our new travel pals Hannah and Kaitlin to cure our hangovers. Walking back from a mooch on the lake front we got absolutely soaked as the heavens opened on us and for our first downpour in NZ.....