We got an early start out of Russell, departing by 6:45am knowing it was a long drive to Rotorua. It took about 7 hours including getting through Auckland with little traffic. We were staying with Diane and Mike a lovely couple we had met last summer while sailing in Greece.
We met up at a grocery store outside of the town of Rotorua and then followed them to their cabin.
The Kiwis call their beach/country cabins a “bach”. Theirs is very cute and is located just steps from a small lake – Rotoihu. They had trailed their motor boat from Wellington. We took the boat fishing in the late afternoon and there were hardly any other people on the water. No fish were caught but there was a pork roast on the grill when we got back. Lovely quiet evening with their neighbors Ian and Ginny
Next day was a full day on the water on Lake Rotoiti. Brunch at Owere Falls, an exciting rafting trip down the falls and a stop at the hot pools on the way home. By evening I was ready to warm up but Diane and Mike went paddling on the lake near the house. Maybe tomorrow I’ll try a sunset SUP if it is not raining.
Monday March 12
Our day to explore the Rotorua area. Mike and Diane gave us a list of the top three sights in the area and we didn’t make any of them.
This area is known for its geothermal activity, a bit like Yellowstone. Right in the middle of town is a park with bubbling pots and a steaming lake with a footbridge through the middle. Very cool. And at the end of our walk were some hot pools for soaking feet
I had read about the Whakarewarewa Redwoods forest nearby so we did a hike through the woods on the ground. There is an elevated walkway up in the trees but that seemed a bit silly. We walked the trail twice actually because I dropped my new sunglasses on the trail. But we didn’t find them when we retraced our steps in the rain. Later Mike teased us because we went to visit a forest of California trees instead of going to the Maori Geothermal park.
There is a cyclone called Hola hitting the upper part of the North Island and we got a good soaking rain all night.
Last night in Rotorua before we head South to Wellington.