Hey Just a quick update!
With not much time left we spent the next few days in the Bay of Plenty area, the Central Plateau and Taupo-the land of volcanic terrain and geothermal madness!!
On our way to L
ake Taupo we had to do the touristy thing in Rotorua, often referred to as the Las Vagas of New Zealand. Not quite, but close with bus loads of us tourists everywhere. The area was first settled in the 14C when the Te Arawa Waka (Canoe) arrived from Hawaiki. The tribe of the area was named after the canoe. Rotorua is an dynamic thermal area full of natural hot springs, exploding gysers and bubbling mud pools. Kuirau Park in the heart of Rotorua had its very own bubbling mud pools, bellowing steam from the water and a very strong smell (egg like!) which after a few hours you got use to.
Before heading fu
rther inland to Lake Taupo we had a tour around the living thermal village of Whakarewarewa. For generations the tribes have been showing people around their village which they still live in today. Really touristy but way worth doing. Steaming Lakes, thermal pools reaching temperatures of 120'c, a cultural show including the Haka, sweetcorn cooked in one of the pools, exploding geysers and silica terraces. The recent earth quake in Italy was detected at the thermal village. Scientists often go in to monitor the movement and level of the water and underlying fault line. When the earth quake hit the water levels dropped really low in the village pools.
When shown around the village graveyard with 20 plus tombs Angie and I could not help but wonder whether the bodies cook!! I know, wrong, but around the tombed graves were vents to let the steam out so the pressure did not build up.......What would happen to the bodies-answers on a postcard please. These thoughts made worse by the villages geothermal Hangi, where the food is cooked, was just down the path!! 
Our next stop, another thermal dip, this time in a thermal stream in Kerosene Creek, away from the main hordes of tourists surrounded by bush-awesome! Lake Taupo, the largest lake in New Zealand, is beautiful, we stayed there for the day and prepared for our longest and the best walk we have done so far!!
The creme de le creme of our time in this area was the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in the heart of Tongariro National Park. 19KM across active volcanic terrain and where Mordor was filmed. My words will not do it justice. The most breathtaking views, walking amongst steaming vents, hot springs, emerald lakes, old lava flows, water filled craters, the stunning red creator, volcanoes (Ngauruhoe and Mount Tongariro) and more awesome views! The mountains of Tongaririo National Park was gifted to the people of NZ in 1887 by Ngati Tywharetoa Chief. The walk took 7 hours in total, up some really steep slopes and sliding on our bums on the scree slopes! I hope these photos go some was to showing you how awesome the walk was.
With not much time left we spent the next few days in the Bay of Plenty area, the Central Plateau and Taupo-the land of volcanic terrain and geothermal madness!!
On our way to L
ake Taupo we had to do the touristy thing in Rotorua, often referred to as the Las Vagas of New Zealand. Not quite, but close with bus loads of us tourists everywhere. The area was first settled in the 14C when the Te Arawa Waka (Canoe) arrived from Hawaiki. The tribe of the area was named after the canoe. Rotorua is an dynamic thermal area full of natural hot springs, exploding gysers and bubbling mud pools. Kuirau Park in the heart of Rotorua had its very own bubbling mud pools, bellowing steam from the water and a very strong smell (egg like!) which after a few hours you got use to.Before heading fu
rther inland to Lake Taupo we had a tour around the living thermal village of Whakarewarewa. For generations the tribes have been showing people around their village which they still live in today. Really touristy but way worth doing. Steaming Lakes, thermal pools reaching temperatures of 120'c, a cultural show including the Haka, sweetcorn cooked in one of the pools, exploding geysers and silica terraces. The recent earth quake in Italy was detected at the thermal village. Scientists often go in to monitor the movement and level of the water and underlying fault line. When the earth quake hit the water levels dropped really low in the village pools.
When shown around the village graveyard with 20 plus tombs Angie and I could not help but wonder whether the bodies cook!! I know, wrong, but around the tombed graves were vents to let the steam out so the pressure did not build up.......What would happen to the bodies-answers on a postcard please. These thoughts made worse by the villages geothermal Hangi, where the food is cooked, was just down the path!! 
Our next stop, another thermal dip, this time in a thermal stream in Kerosene Creek, away from the main hordes of tourists surrounded by bush-awesome! Lake Taupo, the largest lake in New Zealand, is beautiful, we stayed there for the day and prepared for our longest and the best walk we have done so far!!
The creme de le creme of our time in this area was the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in the heart of Tongariro National Park. 19KM across active volcanic terrain and where Mordor was filmed. My words will not do it justice. The most breathtaking views, walking amongst steaming vents, hot springs, emerald lakes, old lava flows, water filled craters, the stunning red creator, volcanoes (Ngauruhoe and Mount Tongariro) and more awesome views! The mountains of Tongaririo National Park was gifted to the people of NZ in 1887 by Ngati Tywharetoa Chief. The walk took 7 hours in total, up some really steep slopes and sliding on our bums on the scree slopes! I hope these photos go some was to showing you how awesome the walk was.
I'll be back soon to update on the last of our adventures in New Zealand before heading to Asia!!
Much love xxxxx
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