From Opotiki to Rotura and Papamoa

Morning pic

We slept really well and wake up to bright sunshine. Unfortunately, the showers turn out to be "cold showers" for me. Jürgen has better luck later and gets a hot shower.

We have breakfast outside and it's finally quite calm.

After a walk along the sea, we start towards Rotorua.

From a viewpoint, you have a good view of White Island, where many people died in a volcanic eruption in 2019.

I don't even know if trips to the island are still offered.

Unfortunately, the weather here gets worse again. The next stop is "Hells Gate" where we take a tour of the geothermal park. There's bubbling and steaming everywhere, and it smells extremely bad like rotten eggs ☹️.

There are plenty of geysers, hot springs, and a hot waterfall here.

And of course, plenty of Maori carvings.

After the tour of the park, I walk through the Muddy Food-Spa...a warm mud mask for the feet 🦶. Jürgen doesn't want to 🤦

We continue to Rotorua.

Somewhat disappointed by the lake and Rotorua, perhaps just oversaturated with what we have already seen, we start looking for a parking space.

We search in vain. All places occupied and it also smells extremely bad like rotten eggs here, so we decide to drive towards Tauranga. Here, too, all freedom camping spots are occupied and there is a $200 fine for illegal parking.

We decide to spend another night at a campground on Papamoa Beach. The Pacific Park Christian Holiday Park. I thought the owner's name was Christian, but when we check in, we realize that it is a Christian campground..... Alcohol and smoking prohibited 😂😂

The place is also quite empty. We cook and then the sky gets cloudy again. Rain is already predicted for tomorrow.