23_MOUNT RUAPEHU AND KEROSENE CREEK

In the evening we had a farewell fire at the tiny house while observing the Milky Way at night… It’s insane how many stars we can see here!!!

Today we left early for Whakapapa to take the gondola (Sky Waka gondola) up Mount Ruapehu, which at 2797 m is the highest volcano in New Zealand. It looks completely surreal here, the old volcanic rock is dark and the houses, which are mostly inhabited in the winter when covered in snow, give everything a ghostly appearance. At the top, we decide to take the Skyline Walk (once again) and have to be careful on this rocky-gravel-sand mixture. Unfortunately, the fog does not clear up, so Casper David Friedrich sends his regards.

Now another 200 km to Rotorua, our next destination. On the way, there is a hot river, Kerosene Creek, which I initially hesitate to enter, but then we settle in a rapid (just the way I like it) and enjoy the water heated to at least 38 degrees, which occurs because thermal water rises from the ground - really strange, rivers are usually cold…!