29th January 2019 - to Rotorua

It was goodbye to Whitianga with its blue sea and sky and rising temperatures, and onto Rotorua, following the Pacific Coast Highway. Another road of twists and turns, ups and downs, but generally not too much traffic. It was uneventful until our satnav tried to send us the long route and we ignored her! There is no logic to the satnav. Sometimes she tries to send us on a short cut on small roads, at other times it’s avoid the small roads and go the long way round! 🙄 At one roundabout she even changed her mind at the last minute! Good job I was watching the map and knew what to do!!

After 90 minutes on the road it really was time to have a coffee - sorry about another recurrent theme! - and we pulled off into a little village called Whiritoa where tucked away near the beach was a tiny coffee shop come general store. Perfect!

And then onto Rotorua. As we travelled south we were aware of more and more farms growing what we think might have been avocados. The trouble was they were behind 30foot high leylandii hedges that are trimmed very thinly, we suppose for protection from wind, and maybe cold (although after the last few days I’m not sure if it ever gets cold here!) so it was difficult to see. We think there were orchards too and have seen signs for kiwis (the fruit!) and tangelos. Will find out more and let you know!

Our accommodation here in Rotorua has gone back up a notch. Whitianga was clean and basic, but here it’s got more! Unfortunately no balcony or outside space but then we are in the middle of town!

Temperatures today have reached at least 32, and whilst driving it doesn’t matter much, but it does sap the energy from you when you want to get out and about and do things. However as it cooled later in the afternoon we walked over to Kuirau Park. Not perhaps your usual Park as this one is full of geothermal activity and there are bubbling ponds and mud - all fenced off for safety!!

Now in the Bay of Islands, and more so in Whitianga there were tsunami warning signs and escape routes everywhere, plus info in our rooms about the type of siren that sounds, so there was an element of relief as we left the coast for higher ground this morning! Only to be replaced by signs in the Park telling you to keep to the walkways, and watch for any sign of changes at your feet just in case another vent is opening up!! This beautiful country does have its issues! And of course everywhere there is information about what to do in an earthquake!

With the geothermal activity of course comes the smell of sulphur. Even sitting having something to eat tonight there was a waft of it every so often. Hopefully there will be a video to attach, but that won’t have the smell. You’ll just have to imagine. Think rotting eggs!

This mud pool just bubbled and gurgled!