Rotorua and the Upgrades Continue

Our spree of free upgrades has continued over the last couple of days when we left the comfort of our hotel to pick up our camper which was called Cheapa Camper (we didn't expect too much), only to find they were the same company as Apollo rentals who have just upgraded their fleet. So although we paid Cheapa prices we managed to wangle a brand new 20,000km on the clock campervan and this one does feel more motorhome than converted Calbarrie Van as you can see from the photos.

So we set off in our swish camper and drove 3 ½ hours to Rotorua home of geothermal parks. My first impression was that Kris had had a happy little accident but quickly realised there has got to be a downside to such beauty which is the smell of Sulphur.

We went to one of the geothermal parks today and stroke 3rd time lucky and got a discount on our ticket and the kind lady at the counter chucked in free tickets to their Maori culture performance show (RRP $10 each). We got up close with a couple of the geysers which erupt 2 to 3 times an hour and reach up to 110ft and then made our way to the bubbling mud pools which were fascinating to watch and listen to.

We then had lunch in the redwood forest before visiting the Green and Blue Lakes (similar feel to driving around Banff) before taking on the challenge of a 3d maze. There were 3 entry points and the aim of the game to make it to each coloured corner and then back out the entrance you came in. Lets just say Kris won taking approx 30 mins I was somewhere lost and way behind!

We are now resting our weary legs in the natural hot springs of Rotorua ready to continue South tomorrow.