Today we were due to get the bus back to Hamilton at 5.15 p.m. so we had the day to explore the thermal sights of the Rotorua area. Many of the best sites are some distance out so we took a prebooked half day minibus trip with Elite Adventures.
This was very good with Ben our Mauri driver and guide giving us all the local information and only us and an American couple in the group.
We started with the Wai-o- Tapu Thermal reserve with bubbling hot mud pools and multicoloured thermal pools. We then headed on to the Waimangu Vocanic valley to view more multi coloured hot pools among lush tropical vegetation.
We returned to Hamilton by bus and enjoyed an all you can eat 3 course buffet at a restaurant in the evening for 19NZ$ (about 9 pounds) With a lack of cycling miles we couldn't do this justice but managed 2 deserts
Posted by Edwin
at 5:35 PM EADT
Updated: Tuesday, 25 January 2005 8:07 PM EADT
