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Day 38 Rotorua
Day dawned beautifully bright and sunny, oh what a joy to pull back the curtains and have the sun streaming in the windows and a blinding reflection over the lake outside.
We set off in the car after breakfast to visit Hell's Gate but realised we had misread the directions and ended upon the wrong road so visited Waimangu Volcanic Valley instead; not a bad choice and it was a fantastic walk down the valley created by the eruption of Tarawera in 1886 and subsequent eruptions in the early 1900's. This valley is the only hydro-thermal system in the world wholly formed within historic times. It is full of thermal pools, Frying Pan lake which is the world's largest hot water spring and Lake Rotonmahana which covers the submerged pink and white terraces which were acknowledged as the eighth wonder of the world. A fantastic sight but very smelly, sometimes wondered if it was the sulphur pools or the effect last night's duck! Wasted a load more sun cream again though as the cloud came over; honestly I think I have applied more cream in anticipation of a continued sunny day than I have for an actual one here in New Zealand. It's not that the weather has been bad, it's just been so changeable. At around two we came back to Rotorua and went to the Polynesian Spa which had been recommended to us by the hotel. We chose the adult pools which gave us a choice of 7 different pools that were either acidic or alkaline and at varying temperatures from 38 deg through to 42 which was too hot to stay in long, in fact about 5 mins was about it. Very relaxing, but I'm sure my tan, such as it is now as faded even more in all that water, I just look so much paler now.
Can't get the smell out of my costume either, even after I've hand washed it; I guess we'll have to wait until I get the use of a washing machine. Chicken and chips from the Dairy opposite for dinner tonight, very good. Off tomorrow for Whitianga via Mt Maunganui……..
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