abZORBing Rotorua

First job of the morning was to do the washing, however dodgy driers meant we had to take wet clothes with us on the road [late note - these clothes were still wet days later]. Then we were all able to wash our hair (which hadn't been done since Friday - yuk).

First activity of the day was the ZORB. Tiffany, Courtney and I all had a go at the "wet" "zig-zag" Zorb. Basically a big plastic ball with a smaller plastic ball inside it, they put water (warm thankfully) inside the little one and you jump inside and roll down the hill. Courtney also had a go and the "dry" zorb, where you get strapped in and head straight down the hill. We ended up buying the photo CD from there so there are plently of photos to show when we get back home.

We then left Rotorua, driving out through the town we could see steam rising from various pools and ponds around the place.

Our first stop outside of Rotorua were the Blue and Green Lakes (officially called Lake Tikitapu and Rotokakahi) which are two almost adjoining lakes with distinctly different water colours. Big explanation as to why which I won't bore you with.

The next stop was the Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland, stepping out at this place I knew it smelt familiar, it took me a moment but I worked it out...it smells exactly like a wastewater treatment plant. It was gross. You walk around and look at all the sulphur and stuff thats bubbling in pools. Some interesting colours, but we hurried through due to the smell. The whole place would make and interesting backdrop for a film about the end of the world...lots of steam.

Just outside the thermal wonderland (which we had to pay for) was a large geothermal pool (bubbling hot mud). Mum loved this place and could have stayed all day. Tiff though some of the mud was cute...

Next stop was much closer to Taupo - the Huka Falls. Not really much to say about them, but they were big for falls and are slowly eroding and moving further upstream. Oh and the water was crystal blue.

At this point we began to hurry. We had heard that there was a storm blowing over from the south island and was looking to be rather nasty, and mum wanted to see these mountains (Mt Ruapehu, Mt Tongariro and Mt Ngauruhoe). We had the option of staying in Taupo for the night but the weather may have closed the road the next day...so we hurried...

And we made it. It was a race against the sun on Desert Road but we manages to see the mountains before the sun set completely.

Beyond the hilly sections of road we pulled over near a little town called Bulls for the night.