Saturday, March 21, 2009

Paddling, Volcanoes and Sulphurous Springs


Monday 16 March Rain first then sunshine and a few clouds 24C drove 278km

Despite their night-time activities, our next door neighbours were up early and put their TV on. As previously noted, the walls were very thin, so this distraction woke us up. Bread and ginger marmarlade provided breakfast in the room and shortly after that, we were packed up and ready to go.

Rejoining the Pacific Highway, which we had been following since Napier, the route took us west and soon we entered the Bay of Plenty region, Once again, the road roughly follows the coast through mainly farming communities. At Whangaparaoa, we stopped on a pretty beach and dabbled our toes in the sea, a first since arriving in NZ. Continuing on, we stopped again at Te Kaha for a cup of coffee, again on a pretty bay. For most of the drive, it is possible to see White Island 50km off the coast. This is a very active volcano and whilst we looked, a large puff of smoke rose from the tip of the volcano.

At Opotiki, civilisation finally returns, the first major town since Gisburne a day and half and some 350km back. It is possible to drive by a more direct route of 143km, but the scenic route is much better. We had lunch in a bakery in the main street here in brilliant sunshine. After lunch we wandered around town and looked at the war memorial and a large Maori carving.

We hadn't set off with any real plan in mind earlier, but at this stage Rotoroa seemed like the obvious place to head to, but not too quickly! Just outside Opotiki, we found a long deserted beach and had an after dinner relax in the sunshine. Whilst I went paddling Lynn sat and read her book.

Realising we were getting a little burned we headed back up the road to Whakatane, a larger town on the coast. We took a small diversion that took us through mangrove swamps with lots of herons to be seen before heading generally southwest on the SH30. The road is dominated by a large obvious volcano, Mount Edgecumbe or Putauaki.

As the road enters the Rotorua area, it passes Lake Rotoiti, a very large body of water. Shortly after this a strong smell of sulpher barged into the car; the great smell of volcanic activity! The source of the strong smell is an area called Hells Gates, very appropriate.

Rotorua is a huge town and on the outskirts somehow looks very American. Finally in the town, we head for a campsite to find some rooms, but the site is full. Plan B involves visiting the Tourist Information centre in town. Here, a very helpful lady finds us a motel almost in the middle of town with the unlikely name of the Havana. Name aside, the room on the first floor is fine and outside is a large hot spring fed mineral swimming pool. Dumping the bags, we headed straight for the pool.

Later, a visit was made to the Polynesian Spa to find out details for the next day, before retiring to the Pig and Whistle for some food and beer.

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