Sulfur smell and gravel rash! - Rotorua

23/11 - 26/11

From Turangi, it is not even a two-hour drive to Rotorua, our next stop. However, since we could only check in at the next accommodation in the afternoon, we stopped in Taupo for a coffee on the way. The area between Taupo and Rotorua is particularly characterized by volcanic activities. There are several resorts here that take advantage of hot springs and other side effects of the volcanoes. We did some research and found a spot in the middle of the forest that is freely accessible. Here, an inconspicuous stream (Kerosene Creek) flows through the forest, even with a small waterfall. When you step into the water, you might think you are lying in a comfortably warm bathtub. So, a free wellness afternoon in nature, except you can't immerse your head because supposedly there are some unpleasant bacteria in the water.

Afterwards, with a slightly unpleasant smell on our skin, we went to our accommodation in Rotorua. When we entered our room, we briefly felt like checking into a prison. The room was tiny and consisted mainly of a bunk bed and a small shelf. At least we had a tiny window for some daylight and fresh air. The window was enough to be able to follow the rehearsals of the local choir next door. They were getting ready for the Christmas season.

We decided to go out for dinner again, as the hostel kitchen (once again) was a disgrace and there was also a Night Market with many food stalls just around the corner. We treated ourselves to dumplings in three variations, a falafel wrap, Chilean churros, and baklava.

Emi wanted to take a closer look at the volcanic attractions, so we spent the next morning in the Thermal Land. There was a short geyser demonstration and other moderately exciting things to observe. The most exciting was the Champagne Pool, which owes its name to the constantly rising bubbles.

The rest of the day, we walked through the city and prepared for the next day. In Rotorua, there is one of the most popular mountain bike parks in New Zealand, if not on the Southern Hemisphere, at least that's what the locals claim. I actually wanted to explore the park on my own with a bike, but then I found an offer on the internet where you can go with a guide and an e-mountain bike. Emi was also convinced of that.

So, the next day we went to the Redwood Forest, equipped with electrified full suspension bikes. We had the guide Joe all to ourselves, as no one else had booked the tour. After getting used to the device, we took a short warm-up ride through the forest. Just before the first break, we rode down one of the many gravel roads to rest at the parking lot. The guide and I were already down, but unfortunately Emi was no longer behind us. When we rode back, Emi came limping towards us, completely dirty on one side. She had also developed gravel rash on her right upper arm and elbow, and her hip was bruised. Unfortunately, she had the bad luck that the rear wheel slipped away from her and she crashed onto the rough gravel at high speed. After her head also hit the ground, the headache didn't take long to follow.

I was actually sure that Emi wouldn't pedal for the rest of the day, but after a short treatment break and a painkiller, she continued as well. 

After some uphill and downhill rides, it was over after 6 hours. Our whole bodies were already aching (Emi's head hurt additionally). Even with an e-bike, you still need some muscle power. Going uphill is faster and easier, but it also means covering a lot more kilometers, which does take its toll. Our guide estimated the whole tour to be 60 kilometers. In the last hour, we were even accompanied by Joe's dog, and at the end, he even treated us to a beer.

We spent the rest of the day trying to use our sore bodies as little as possible. In the evening, we once again didn't feel like cooking and treated ourselves to a proper dinner at a burger place.

Conclusion:

The guided e-bike tour was the right decision. The Redwood Forest is huge, and looking at the map can be overwhelming because there are so many trail options. With an experienced guide and an e-bike under our butts, we were able to explore a lot of this biker's paradise. The only thing you have to put up with from the other bikers is some teasing and insults when you pass them in boost mode. 'You bastards! I hate both of you!' was just one of several affectionate calls.

Rotorua is the first New Zealand city to be visited by tourists. Accordingly, there is a wide range of tourist activities here. However, we have now decided that we will not do all of our planned activities on our trip in New Zealand. We still have something in store for South America, and New Zealand would slowly start to break our budget if we continued like this.

Hasta pronto!

E&L

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