River Hike

While driving around the outskirts of Rotorua, we found a trail along the river that leads to the lake. Along the river we came across a cave, a set of really powerful rapids, and an old, rusted hydroelectric powerstation.

Makes you want to get an inflatable raft, no?


The path down the cliff to the cave.

The cave. In wartime, the local Maori tribe used to lower their families by ropes to this cave to hide them.

The remains of the power plant and a rusted turbine. This plant was built alongside the river, rather than as a dam across the river. The water shot along the raceway and powered several turbines.

Some shots along the trail, and a few from quite a ways off the trail:

Rotorua

Rotorua means "second lake" in Maori. It earned this auspicious title by being the second lake found by the Maori cheiftan who gave the place its name.

The whole city is pockmarked with pools of thermal hot springs. Unfortunately, Taylor does not share my love for spending hours and hours sitting in boiling water, so we didn't visit any. Plus, I'm sure they charge a small fortune for the privilege, just like everything else here (including toilets...more on that later).

That's steam, not mist.

After I staggered away from zorbing, we found this odd western themed hostel named Cactus Jack's where we spent the night. Here are a couple of photos.


We also saw some emus, or ostriches, or something... Whatever they are, they are big.

Photos don't do them justice...

Finally, we found this really cool ride in a playground on the shore of the lake.

It's harder than it looks.

Zorbing

On Thursday we left Auckland for a weekend trip south to Mt. Ruapeho. On the way, we stopped in a little town (or "decent sized city" by NZ standards) called Rotorua. Rotorua, it just so happens, is home to zorbing. Zorbing is an attraction that involves a giant inflatable ball and a hill. Basically, you strap yourself into the center of a big beach ball and roll and bounce down the hill.

I did it. These aren't pictures of me...the scoundrels wouldn't let me bring my camera. But, I did it.


It's a unique experience, but I would advise against eating beforehand.