Day 6 - Rotorua

Theresa: After our high adventures yesterday, we decided to end our New Zealand trip relaxing in Rotorua today. Rotorua is known for its geothermal activities which includes bubbling mud pools, geysers, and steaming lakes. You smell it before you see it due to the sulfur that is released from the geysers. On our way to Rotorua, to Clint's surprise, I wanted to stop at the Agrodome, a farm, which is famous for its sheep shearing show. New Zealand is known for its wool, so I thought it would be cool to learn up close and personal! The show was very funny as they asked for guest participation. Thank goodness I didn't get picked to milk the cow or feed the lamb (even though Clint kept pointing at me every time the host would ask for volunteers)! We saw all the different types of sheep as well as got opportunities to pet them.

After the Agrodome, we went into the city to check out the bubbling mud pools and geysers. As we got close to one of the parks, you could see the steam rising up over the park. In the park, you could see the bubbling mud pools. They had several stops where you could stop and dip your feet into the steaming lake waters. The water was literally warmed up by the hot ground!

We went on a tour of the sacred Maori grounds Te Pua and watched two geysers erupt. The eruptions usually happen around every hour, but the tour guide said the geysers are very tempermental. Sometimes they erupt more often and sometimes they do not erupt for several hours.

We ended our trip in Rotorua with a visit to the Polynesia Spa and soaked in a private hot mineral spring pool. The ground around the pool was already warm and the water was nice and hot. Amazing how this all happens naturally!