.... and on to Rotorua ....

.... nicknamed RotoVegas .... is significantly exaggerated from our perspective, by the way.

For today, we planned a 'driving stage' to Rotorua, during which we made two interesting stops along the way.

A few kilometers after leaving the Highland Lodge, we made a brief visit to the Waihi gold mine. The above-ground part is no longer in operation, but the underground section has been booming for several years .... making the gold mine the largest employer in this region.

Continuing over the Bay of Plenty, we passed endless kiwi and avocado plantations on our way to Tauranga with its harbor (the second largest after Auckland) and Mount Maunganui, the name of both the mountain and the town: very idyllic, as it is bordered on one side by Pilot Bay and on the other side by the Pacific .... with many diverse beaches as a result.

On the further kilometers to Rotorua, we were again accompanied by numerous kiwi plantations before we reached the high plateau of Rotorua with its steaming springs, geysers, and more.

After an extensive and very delicious New Zealand barbecue, we ended the day at the Polynesian Spa overlooking Lake Rotorua.