Rotorua, or better known as the city that smells like eggs, was our next destination. We were already well warned of its particular smell, but it never ceased to amaze us when in the vicinity of the city a cooked egg turtle made us close all the windows of the car in an automatic reaction.
Then we looked at each other and understood that we had already arrived in the city of the smell of eggs! And it is this smell that makes Rotorua a must-see destination in New Zealand and, therefore, that brings us here. Although not precisely the smell, but its origin. Rotorua is built on a large volcanic caldera (come on, a huge volcano) that makes the land full of “vents” where the vapors of the earth leave, hence this smell.
In the area there are countless businesses with natural pools, spas and hot mud baths. Many of them are simple complexes with some building and thermal areas where you can take a bath and others are large geothermal parks, such as Wai-O-Tapu, which we visited later. But in the city there is also a free park! Is he Kuirao park where there are several wells and outdoor swimming pools, from which stinky amount of steam comes out and through which you can take an entertaining turn. All the chimneys are fenced so as not to screw up! Better, than with the ducks we are ...
Where if we put our feet (and we did not get whole for decency ...) was in the hot water pools at the end of the park. What a joy!
In the city there is also the second largest lake in New Zealand (Lake Rotorua), after Lake Taupo. There is a very cool park with a view of it where we spend a small feeder feeding the large number of black swans and spying on the Japanese / Korean / Chinese groups that flooded the promenade.
But when we think of Rotorua we will not only remember its smell, also the fantastic couple that welcomed us into their home during these days. That traveling by van gives you a lot of freedom, yes, but a hot shower and a real bed never hurts. So when we read that our friends from Un Cambio de Aires did couchsourfing (without having it full! Something very curious) with this couple we didn't think about it and we sent the request. Without thinking twice we opened the doors of his house and with them we spent very cool moments! With them and with their chickens, their sheep and their horses ...
But before reaching Rotorua we passed a very curious place along the way: the Kiwi360: a piece of a giant kiwi poster, in some kiwi fields and, of course, next to a hostel to accommodate temporary workers. And we started to think ... what is the business? The collection of kiwis or have the workers in your accommodation mandatory, while they work in your fields? We also pass some small waterfalls, the Okere Waterfalls, not very impressive ... The next visit is the Wai-O-Tapu Park, which Lety is so eager to visit.
USEFUL INFO
On the airport road there are several gas stations with very good prices (about 10 or 15 cents cheaper than the rest of NZ). The geothermal park in the city is free, it does not have the colors of Wai-O-Tapu but it is a good alternative if you want to save money. Although if your budget can afford it, there are several payment sites in the surroundings that are worthwhile.
