Thursday I rented a car, and drove a scenic route to Rotorua – the geo-thermal capital of New Zealand. The landscape looks like Island and Azores… Vulcanic activity, sulfur smell and geysirs etc.
I drove pass a couple of mountains, around a waterfall and around Rotorua lake… And then I spent a full day at the Polynesian Spa directly on the lake-side. The spa has for 8years been rated amongst top-10 world-wide by Conde Nast Traveller. There are 11 pools with high-mineral natural hot water, which temperature is controlled to perfection. A kind like Blue Lagoon in Iceland or “Spring of youth” in Azores…
After this I drove to tongario National park where I climbed Mount Raupehu… By car.
Then I drove to Waitomo Caves and did a black water rafting in the caves… WOW. This is highly recommended: You enter a cave and follow the stream in absolutely darkness for some parts and you drift nicely along in the cold water (in a thick wetsuit, boots etc.). A must do…
