Whitianga to Rotorua

After leaving Phil and Laura's we drove to Whitianga in the Coromandel peninsula. We checked into our hostel which was about 25 metres from a very nice beach - we could see the water from our balcony. After dumping our stuff, we then drove to hot water beach. 2 hours either side of low tide, there are certain spots on the beach where hot springs bubble out from the sand.

Hot Water Beach

Some people dug to form their own spa pool - as you can see from the photo's it was fairly busy. It's a very strange feeling to dig your toes into the sand and for it to be too hot to keep your toes there for more than 5 seconds - weird!

We went back to the hostel via the supermarket for some provisions. When we arrived back there had been a complete power cut. Fortunately, we were barbequing that night but it seemed strange to be in the pitch black for a few hours, the power was finally restored at 830pm.

Cathedral Cove

The following day, we drove to Cathedral Cove - this is perhaps one of the most photographed places in the North Island where there is a huge limestone arch which links two parts of the beach. Again, truly stunning and we managed to sneak in an hours sunbathing.

Cathedral Cove - Em & I

From there we drove to Rotorua which is the thermal hotspot of the North Island and therefore quite smelly! We checked out Wai Tapo Thermal Wonderland which consisted of various thermal wonders believe it or not!! Hot bubbling mud, thermal springs, mineral terraces, etc, etc. Some of the colours were amazing from lurid yellow (sulphur) to bronze/rust colours - check the photo's! We also watched the Lady Knox Geyser spurt.

Rotorua - Thermal wonderland

The following day we had booked to go white water rafting. According to the leaflet, we would raft down the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world - 7 metres of it. After a somewhat short safety briefing, we were launching the raft with 4 complete strangers and 1 "instructor" - Em managed to get the front seat which she was slightly concerned about.

Rotorua - white water rafting

It started somewhat tamely but the rapids built and built until we hit the big one - incredible. After going over, the raft gets completely submerged under the water but none of us managed to fall out and we completed the whole route without capsizing.

Rotorua - white water rafting

There were several points where the instructor got as to paddle back into falls to ensure we all got a good soaking - pretty chilly as we had checked the water temperature on the way down at 16 degrees!! Fantastic fun and got the adrenaline going!

Rotorua - white water rafting

written by

Tim and Em on March 22, 2010 from Rotorua, New Zealand

from the travel blog: Round half the world!

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