Sunday, 16.02., journey from Ohukane to Rotorua

Good thing we're not going hiking today. I feel my thighs more than usual ;-) We continue on to Rotorua. Along the way, the landscape reveals its hilly mountains, drizzling rain, and Lake Taupo - unique. And then we see steam. And sure enough, sulfur fumes emerge from the earth here, taking your breath away. And then we see steam every now and then in meadows, in forests, on pastures.

A little spooky.

Arriving in Rotorua - our B&B today is a listed house built in 1903 for Edwin Robertson, a wealthy entrepreneur in Rotorua. In 1905, Robertson sold the house to the Johnson family, who used it as a dormitory for students of Rotorua District High School. After a complete renovation, the historic building with its Victorian character now offers stylish guest accommodation. The veranda is adorned with a beautiful Union Jack railing and the rooms all have polished wooden floors. Really very pretty. Our host is quite funny too. Right after we put our things in the room, we take a first walk around the town. Rotorua is the place of towering geysers, hot springs, and bubbling mud pools. The city has one of the highest geothermal activities in the world and sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire. Rotorua is home to the 'Te Arawa' Maori tribe. We visit the park with its many bubbling lakes, steaming holes, and palpable geothermal energy. Next, we head towards a Maori village. There is a meeting in an assembly house and we listen from a distance to the singing of the people and admire another assembly house from the outside. And everywhere, between the houses, on the sidewalk, in the front yards, steam rises, it bubbles and hisses, and it is warm underfoot. A pavement has a crack, and there is bubbling underneath. The street has a yellow spot and it is warm here. It's strange to live so close to the steam of the Earth's interior.

We end the day with beer and wine on Rotorua's party mile (EAT STREAT) and then enjoy our sandwiches on the hotel's terrace.