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Today we smelled enough sulphurous gases to last a lifetime (actually not nearly as bad as I thought it might be!) We went to Wai-Otapu, the geothermal wonderland with mesmerising boiling mud pools, steam fumaroles, boiling water in strangely coloured lakes and deadly craters. It really was "awesome". Headed off to Lake Tuapo via the Aratiatia dam, which is opened at various times throughout the day to release enormous volumes of water into New Zealand's longest river providing about 5./. of the nation's power and excellent white water rafting opportunities. It was quite a spectacle as the water came thundering through the dam and over the rocks. Much more impressive than the Huka waterfall, which was our next stop, and seemed like a mere trickle in comparison! By the time we to to Lake Tuapo it was pouring with rain and as bad storms have been forecast we decided to move on. The lake is huge, (bigger than Singapore apparently) and had large waves lashing onto black sand beaches, hard to believe it's fresh water. We're camping tonight in Tokaanu, at the southern end of the lake, in a site with its own geothermal bathing pools. I found the boling water a bit too hot for the backs of my calves, which I discovered are still a bit tender from the sunburn, so I had to try and wallow in the water with my legs up in the air - not the most relaxing position for a spa experience!
Well it is pouring with rain, but not exactly a storm (yet) so better get some sleep now. Tomorrow we're off to Wellington........
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