After my caving experience, I drove for two hours 20 minutes to Rotorua, which is apparently New Zealand’s most famous tourist destination. It is known for its hot springs, explosive geysers, bubbling mud pools and smell of rotten eggs caused by clouds of sulphurous gas.
When I went into town for dinner with Nina, 45, from Sweden, I was struck by how artificial the town felt, as all the roads were perpendicular. There were a lot of businesses, but few people around, which felt quite eerie. However, there must have been plenty of bugs because I got absolutely covered in itchy bites. I still had burnt and peeling skin from my cruise in the Bay of Islands, so I looked awful. Everyone kept asking what had happened to me. Nina gave me her insect repellent, which stung like mad on my sore skin, but it didn’t work and I got even more bites overnight.
The next day I went to Te Puia to see the area’s most impressive geothermal spots including Pohutu geyser which spurts hot water up to 30m in the air. I preferred seeing all these features in Iceland a few years ago, but at the centre, I also learned a lot about Maori culture, and saw a performance which included the famous haka. I also saw a live kiwi, but photos weren’t allowed. They’re such odd creatures!
A short distance from Rotorua, I turned down the easily-missable road to Kerosene Creek, on someone’s recommendation. After a couple of kilometres, I reached the car park. A couple of people emerged from the woods wearing very little, and it looked rather dubious. I walked along the river until I reached a waterfall where a group of people were bathing. I dipped a toe in the water and discovered that it was pleasantly warm. Now there’s something my guidebook missed.