North Island Tour with Cait: Part 3

Our next destination was Rotorua, the epicenter of thermal activity on the island. The next three photos are from the city park, right in the middle of town. We were too cheap to pay the exorbitant entry fees to the privately owned hot pools and geysers, so we went to this park instead. It turned out to have really cool bubbling mud pools, boiling clear springs, and some beautiful flowers.







There was also a very nice farmer's market where we picked up some fresh silverbeet (aka chard) and leeks for dinner.

At the market (looking a little rough on a cold afternoon at the end of three days camping)

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On our way out to the campground, we stopped for a hike in a beautiful forest that was used for experimental plantings at the beginning of New Zealand's timber industry. There are number of different trees to be found in and among the native bush, including beech, walnut, and redwood.


The redwoods are only about 100 years old, but due to the favorable climate they have grown quite tall. Here is Cait in front of a lovely old tree.

A pool just off the trail. Notice how incredibly clear the water is.

This is a perfect example of the wonderfully wide and well-maintained trails to be found in most reserves.


Cait and Sean