Drive to Rotorura

This was another of those drives that almost required the scenery overload trip switch to be re-set. After the Coromandel Pensinsular, we had around a 4 hour drive south and see some more of the changing landscape. Not only the scenes however, but the odour also made a dramatic change also as we drove into Rotorura and parked up outside the hotel. The heat had been increasing as we drove south again, but hadn't bargained for picking a hotel just on the lakeside with the most alien looking landscape we coulod have imagined. Then, just as we opened the door of the car, the smell of rotten eggs (commonly known as sulpur) hit our throats.
My memory hit back to school days when somebody would set off a stink bomb, and we would have to evacuate the assemembly room at the start of the day. I so wanted to complain at reception, but realised that nobody commented on the strong stench. nobody apologised about the smell. Nobody spoke about it, and although I was expecting it, I must admit after a day of it, the aroma was becoming less noticeable.

Anyway, we set off for our first explore around the steaming pools next to the lake. WOW!!! seen lots of documentaries about these natural geothermal phenomenon, but to see it in front of your eyes was amazing.
during our walking tour, we discovered a Thai Restuarant and decided to go back there for a meal that evening.
we then considered plans for the following day.