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New Zealand

February 2018 - April 2024
An open-ended adventure by Amanda Read more
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  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 7

    The Journey to Rotorua

    February 11, 2018 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 20 °C

    We stopped at a cider winery around Waihi which was really nice. We srill couldnt see completely becasue of the clouds however what we could see was pretty good. We both got a $10 paddle of cider which was yummy well Amanda thought so, Chris didnt really like his so gave it to Amanda. We also ate these delicuous chips, gravey and cheese dish and got some yummy pop corn chicken. Chris loved the the satay sauce and wanted to buy some buy they only supplied it wholesale. After about an hour we continued down along the coast to Te Puna. We then headed across the Tauranga bridge and around to Waitao. Amanda saw another water fall on the map so we headed down as it had amazing review. There falls where in Ohauiti Forrest in the large forrest area above Rotarua. These falls wheretowards the top, they where called Kaiate Falls. We had to walk a far way down to these falls however it was well worth it. There where about 4 layers of falls from the bridge we where on. These were probably one of our favourite falls so far. We then headed down highway 33 to the start of Rotarua. We found some more falls these ones where on the edge of Lake Rotorua, they where called Okere Falls. By now it was poring down so we we drenched. We still decided to walk down to the falls. The first section we went down wasnt to shabby it had only a small fall. There where some very old from 1901 turbines in the middle of the water fall. After a quick look around we went to another carpark and ventured back out into the rain. We found a path which was steep and flowing with water. We managed to climb down the stairs around around this broken tree. The rapids where crazy!! They where so strong they were coming up onto the stairs and lookout point. This was by far our favourite rapid/water fall.Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 7

    Okere Falls and Rapids

    February 11, 2018 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 21 °C

    We were drowned rats by now haha. We decided to find a shower. We decided to go to the Rotarua local pool and have a swim and shower. We had a bit of a paddle then left there around 8:30. We now had to find some free camp ground, this was the fun bit- not haha. We found 2 free sites which were full so decided to treck to another about 20kms away. We only now realised our head lights where rubbish as Chris would say. This drive was a near death experience. Sharp turns and no lights is not recommended. What should have been a 10 minute drive took us about half an hour if not more. We finally arrived thankful we were alive hahha.Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 8

    Day spent in Rotorua

    February 12, 2018 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Woke up fairly early again today in the free campsite. As we had no service last night being in the jungle we couldnt look at anything we wanted to do today. We headed up to what I thought was a volcano in Whakatane. We where half way and I couldnt see this volcano on the map so we decided to pull over. What it was was a volcano tour over to the Island but I forgot to write that on my map lol. Never the less we trooped on and had some bakery breakfast. We then headed back down to Rotorua. On the way down we stopped at Comvita which was a bee factory or as Chris says a honey processing extraction factory and laboratory. When we pulled up it was this massive white building and looked a little weird. We decided to do a tour as Chris was very interested and said a few times he wanted to go see the honey. The tour was actually amazing!!! They showed us how honey was created, how they place hives in isolated rainforests where it is only accessable via helicopter, we saw a live hive with the queen, we also catched a virtual reality video and learnt the life cycle of a bee from drones - workers and the queen. Chris bought some honey and I bought some some cream for Mel which was some medical honey. We then continued on back to Rotorua, on the way down we stopped for a few photos as the weather wasnt to bad. We then headed to The Redwood Forest where we went to explore however YET AGAIN the windows did not close on the van. We had to call Jucy again and they arrange another machine to have a look, we headed straight there. When Chris was looking at the motor he actually realised what the problem was when we where there. It was the fusable link to the battery so an easy fix. About half an hour later we decided to head back to the main town area we walk along the edge of lake Rotorua looking at cool Geothermal Pockets. We found some huge ones in peoples front yards. We then found a WW2 memorial ground with large graves and plaques. We then headed back to the pools were we where yesterday and had a quick swim and shower. As we had a Maori tour booked so needes to be ready by 4pm.Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 8

    Tamaki Maori Village Rotorua

    February 12, 2018 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 21 °C

    We then headed to Tamaki Maori Village in Tamki. We waited a little then boarded our bus called the Kotuku. We dedicated our Chef on the bus and got to the village and catche the greeting ceremony where they greeted each tribes (buses) leader. This was pretty good, we werent aloud to smile or laugh as it was disrespectful. We then headed into the grounds where each ground went around to each section. In one we learnt traditional games, another the guys did the huka and then we played some rop games and learnt some cultural information in another. Our chefs then led us to an area where we were showed the hungi, this was where they cooked the food in the ground. Our chefs then lead us to this large hall where we watched several cultural dances and song. They also did the huka which I enjoyed. We then headed to a massive fall and had a ginormous feast. Chris had about 100 mussels which he enjoyed. After about an hour we headed back to the Tamaki head quarters. On the bus we song several songs. We then decided to do some washing and drying as our clothes from yesterday were wet. This took about an hour. We then headed back near the airport on the east side of Lake Rotorua in Okawa Reserve where stayed in a small court near a yeti. Went to sleep about 12pm.Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 9

    Another day in Rotorua

    February 13, 2018 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 20 °C

    Woke up fairly early in Okawa Reserve and then started planning our day. As we didnt get to Redwood Forest yesterday we headed there first thing. When there we decided to purchase the tree walkimg experience. This was a half an hour loop - 500 meters about 15 meters from the grond. This loop was really enjoyable with so many amazing large trees. We then did a 3km walk around the forest. We could have stayed her all day. It was a little wet still however however it wasnt going to stop us from our adventures. We then went on the search to find the Jelly Belly store. When we found it we only then realised it was up the top of the cablecart. We decided to purchase a ticket for the cablecart which also encluded x3 luge tickets. We headed up the cablecart which had a pretty good view. We then ecplored a little and had a look at the Jelly Shop. It literally had every flavour jelly belly. We then headed to the luge. We grabbed our helmets and started lining up. The bobsleds where pretty cool. Amanda was a littlw scared at the start however when we started going it wasnt as bad as she had thought. The loop was windy heading down a steep hill, Chris got a video on his go pro which was awesome!! It was literally like mario cart haha. When we were at bottom of the loop when then grabbed the chair lift back up. After our 3 goes at this we then headed to Te Pui which was a Geothermial large area where you could a tour. Te Pui is a multi cultural center. Here we learnt more about the multi cultural back ground of the mauri. Our tour took roughly an hour, we had the best guide who was very insightful. We then took our own tour around the gysters, geothermial areas, mud pools and steam pits. This place was epic!! So amazing!!!Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 9

    Polynesian Spa - Rotorua

    February 13, 2018 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    After the Te Pui we headed to the Polynesian Spa. Here we purchased a private room and general admition. We had half an hour in a private room which encluded a geothermial spa and shower. It was about 41° in our private spa. They controlled the water in the pool by adding cold water or we would have be boiled to deal. It was so hot in the pool we had to keep getting out. After our half an hour we headed to the adult pool which over looked Rotorua lake. So many naked Asians it wasnt funny! The different pools were different temperatures. We spent a while here just relaxing. After a nice shower we decided well Amanda decided she wanted Pizza. We headed to the local pizza store and then ate in the carpark. We then headed back to our Otawa Reserve where we had sleep the previous night.Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 10

    Rotorua - Wai-O-Tapu

    February 14, 2018 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Woke up in our Okawa Reserve again. We really needed to started heading down to Wellington so decided today we would try and get as far as we could. Of course we got distracted only half an hour down. We stopped at Waiotapu and did the short loop. We first went to look at Waiotapu Thermal Track which had more geothermal mud pools we then continued to drive on to Lady Knox Geyser. Unfortunatly it was closed at this time however it didnt stop Amanda from going through the bush. There was a massive geyser here however it wasnt going at the moment. We then headed further down the road where Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland was situated. This place was amazing!! So many Geothermal craters, pools and there was a massive green Geothermal pool. In both of our opinions it was much better then Te Puia. After we completed the loop we hurried back to the Geyser as a show was about to happen. We parked the car and ran to the Geyser it was insane qith teh amount of people heading there. The presenter holding the show told us a the story of how they discovered that the Geyser could actually be activated. He told us how a prisoner accidently dropped his soap into it and it erupted with a chemical reaction with the bicarbs in the soap. This was how the presenter made the Geyser erupt for everyone today.Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 10

    Huka Falls

    February 14, 2018 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    We then continued onto Huka Falls. Once at the Huka Falls we took the Thermal Explorer Highway along side the falls. We stopped at several look out points and then stopped at the geogre. We walked across a bridge and have a look at the falls further down. We could see several boats in the geogre. On the same road we stopped Huka Honey Live. Chris was in his element here. They had a lot more glass hives, more manuka honey, honey ice-cream as well as honey alcohol here. They also had a video we watched of a guy man making a hive and Chris got to try on a bee suit. Chris tried several different honeys as well as some yummy honeycomb. We both tried some fig and honey ive-cream and also another honey ice-cream we cant remember, they were both really good though.Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 10

    Lake Taupo

    February 14, 2018 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    We then headed down to lake Taupo. We drove around the right side all along the lake. It was a little disappointing because the weather was overcast again and you couldn't really see a lot. We did stop for lunch and made some toasties again lol. The sun came out a little here which was good. We then continued on down State Hwy 1. We saw several tanks on the Highway and saw that it was a National Army Museum so we both decided to have a look. Unfortunatly they were closing soon so we had to rush through. The museum had really great attention to detail. We hurried through in half an hour when we returned to reception the receptionist kindly offered that of we would like to come back again it would be complimentary. We kindly accepted and continued on our way out. We then went to the gift shop and Amanda bought a book for her grandpa.Read more

  • TravelerNew Zealand
    Day 10

    Wellington here we come

    February 14, 2018 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    We got to about Ohotu before we again took another detour haha. We saw a canyon sign and decided to follow the road which lead us to a massive canyon. We stopped at several places along the canyon and took some photos. A company which you could swing in the canyon we actually closed we thought that may have been because of the eroding we suspect from heavy rain hall. We then continued onto Mangaweka were we decided to follow the canyon and take the scenic root. This road was amazing, we took so many photos over looking all the hills and canyon. This way was taking far to long so we cut across to Cheltenham where we had a quick stop. This town was such a cute town. We continued down Highway 54 to Palmerston North. We had found a free camp on Highway 2 where Amanda called and they said to just rock up at any time. We headed to Woodville where we started taking Highway 2 down South. We got about a kilometer down and the road was closed, so annoying as it was getting dark and the campsite was only about half an hour down the freeway. We had to head back up and around the Palmerston North. We then made our way down Highway 1 to Muhunoa East where we stayed in Kimberley Reserve. It was about 10pm by now and we where hungry by really couldnt feel bothered cooking. Chris had a sandwich and potato chips and Amanda had some hot cross buns lol. Chris also decided to have a hot cross bun with bbq chips which he quite enjoyed. Off to bed it was.Read more

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