2nd November - We had a nice lie in this morning for the first time in ages because we have been so busy. We left the hostel about midday and headed for the geothermal area of Roturua and the surrounding area. We wanted to try and fit in as much as possible today so we sterted off by heading for a geyser that we knew spouted 80% of the time. When we arrived it was linked to a museum and cost $40NZ to get in so we drove to Wai-o-tapu thermal wonderland instead which covers a much larger area. it was another pay to view but was worth it. We walked for a couple of hours and got up close to little geysers, boiling mud pools, multi coloured lakes, waterfalls and expanses of flat deposits called terraces. We got some good pictures, did the gift shop to death and went up the road to some FREE mud pools. These were pretty violent. Impressive.
On the way home we thought we sould try and sneek a peek at the big Geyser you have to pay to see (mentioned above) and managed to find a spot and grab some photos, better than paying $30!
This evening we took a dip in the hostels very own private hot pool heated by the steam from underground. A nice way to end the day.
3rd November -
The alarm was set for 5.50am this morning! The start of a very busy day! We packed up and began the 125km drive to Waitomo Caves for some Black Water Rafting! Arriving at the cave company base about 8.30 we had some breakfast and Steph bought a cake slice which was "the best cake, EVER!" (we have been searching for it elsewhere ever since!)
We were kitted out with wetsuits, boots, helmets, and random outer shorts for some unknown reason. We drove in a bus to the entrance to the caves, it was very tight and the lights on our helmets were the only thing leading the way. it took a few minutes to adjust to the lack of light. We floated on our rubber tyres down underground streams in pitch black gazing at the glow worms on the cave roof.
Incidently, glow worms are not worms at all, they are maggots, the larve of a fly. and the glow comes from proteins in their digestive system. so we were actually looking at glowing maggot poo! Slightly less romantic!
We jumped off waterfalls backwardsand in some places the roof was just 50cm above the height of the stream. I was cold, Claustrophobic, but well wlrth it. Caving, Rafting and glow worm spotting all in aone go.
After a hot shower and soup we now had 4 hours to get to Auckland, find a hostel, check in and return the car. Time was pretty tight but we made it after the hotel staff gave us the wrong directions to the car rental place! Helpful! We had a long walk back to the hostel but were offered a glass of champagne cocktail whaen we got back! NICE! still no idea why? It made up for the awful $4 dinner I suppose. After dinner there was a pool comp and I won! Woo Yeah! I won a 2.4.1 dolphin cruise so we though we would do that tomorrow, but tomorrow turend out to be not such a good day........
4th November - Got up all excited about our dolphin cruise this morning but was rudely disturbed by a couple of new guests busting into our room, they had been given our room key! We actually had burst into someone elses room when we arrived yesterday and then the same happened to us! As well as last night people being on the roof and having to get management to remove them! (they were from the hostel too!) Right, Time to give reception hell! After that was sorted we got chatting to some of the other guys and it turns out that they have been having similar problems! BAD HOSEL!
We went down to reception to meet for out dolphin safari and find out that what we had been told last night was wrong! the full cost of the trip was a lot more than we had thought so even with our 2.4.1 it was just too expensive. Bummer!
Instead we spent the day in town and took a walk through the park (getting very lost on the way) to the museum. Nice museum but didnt really have much time as it was shutting. wanted to treat ourselves to a nice dinner after a bad day so went for a mexican. Oh Dear, it was BAD! Oh well, no point in grumbling, we are on holiday! so made the most of it and laughed our way through it!
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