The whole area around Rotorua has several geothermal experiences and we were on a mission today to see as many as possible in their natural state rather than the tourist theme park.
Starting in down town we walked around the town park visiting fenced off bubbling mud pools and steaming and sulphur coloured ponds. These mud pools were much bigger than the one we had stumbled upon yesterday in the forest.
We followed a walking route to the Maori old town by the lake which had a significant number of homes and the local church all covered in highly decorative wooden carvings. Every home had a bubbling, gurgling and steaming hot natural water spring coming out of their grounds. Apparently it was common for the women to take their washboards to the largest one and do the washing together.
The walking route took us along the edge of the tourist side of the lake where we saw several coach loads of Orientals hopping on to the paddle steamer taking them around the lake. Passing the aptly named Sulphur Bay, we continued around the lake to the Government Gardens designed in the late 1800's on Victorian English parks. Bandstand, Garden Cottage, Croquet Lawn, Rose Gardens and the odd symbolic Maori wood carving. Well nearly like home!
We popped in a Tourist Info office and through a very helpful guide discovered there were extensive mud pools and hot water spring pools close by free for all. Jumping in the car we headed off to Waiotapu and found a mud pool that outshone all the others seen so far. This was a hot bed of stinking, steaming, gurgling and erupting mud. We were fascinated by it and lingered a long while. Nearby we found the hot water spring pool and donned our swim stuff. The pool is fed by a hot and cold springs which flow in defined areas of hot, warm and cold water and tentatively wading in it was just like getting in a gorgeous hot bath. Except it really smelled of sulphur. Oh yes and don't get any water up your nose in case a particular amoeba infects your brain. Anyway, by gently moving around the pool you could experience all the different temperatures and we stayed for a very long time, Glenn indulging in the warm bits and Yvonne in the hot ones.
With very wrinkled toes and fingers we reluctantly got out and made our way home. Refreshed and relaxed but very smelly.
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| Steaming mud pool in the park |
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| Sulphur coloured pool in the park |
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| Need smell o rama here |
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| Maori town local hot spring |
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| All carved from one piece of wood with shells used for eyes |
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| Erupting mud |
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| Natural hot water spring pool |
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