Rotorua and Taupo

Rotorua is known for two things: Geothermal activity and Maori culture. We saw both during the time we were there. Geysers and hot springs are everywhere. We drove down the highway, seeing steam pouring out of rocks and geysers in the distance. Downtown is immersed in sulfur smell, and geothermal energy is used for electricity in almost every home and business. The government is building more geothermal plants, and they hope to expand over the next decade or two. The only thing that power plants do, essentially, is turn turbines. Nuclear power plants just boil water to produce steam to turn them. Geothermal power plants just focus the steam that is already there.

Rotorua’s New Zealand nickname is Rotovegas. This comes from the way that sometimes the tourists are catered to, with Maori shows dominating the scene. Of course, we also went to a center and got a tour and listened to some talks, and saw a show. The show itself was really small and non-glitzy, nothing like Las Vegas.

We also strolled through the Redwoods! These are the same redwoods as the California Redwoods, but a bit younger. They were planted here around 1900-1910, and they’re doing fine. They are growing in a protected area, full of ferns and moisture.

The airbnb that we stayed in had a tangelo tree with ripe fruit. We also went swimming in Blue Lake, a beautiful mountain lake just up the road, and we went to some hot springs in town on Christmas Day.

Boxing Day we headed to Taupo. On the highway to Taupo, we stopped at the Waiatapo Geothermal area. It has the largest hot pool in the Southern Hemisphere, as well a bubbling mud pits and caves filled with boiling water. They used the sounds of the boiling water to portray Mordor in the Hobbit movie. They also filmed some scenes here.

Taupo

Taupo is just down the road, about an hour south of Rotorua. It also is in the geothermal region. The town is on the banks of Lake Taupo, the largest lake in New Zealand. The Waikato River flows out of the lake, and it is the largest river in New Zealand, flowing up to Auckland. We took an evening boat ride out into the lake to Maori carvings, then the next day we kayaked up the river. The water is some of the clearest that we’ve ever seen. It seems as clear as Waldo Lake, in the Oregon Cascades, which is one of the clearest in the world.

Taupo has lots of outdoor events during the year, including Ironman competitions, Swims across the lake, marathons, and mountain bike get-togethers.

We also took a hike along the river, starting at a thermal pool, and ending up at Huka Falls.

Bungy jumping was invented in New Zealand. The first commercial jump was in 1988 in Queenstown, on the South Island, and the company continues doing it today. People paid, and lined up, and loved it. They still do. Adventure tourism. Adrenaline junkies.

Why do people love it so much? Why do they leap off of bridges and cliffs?

We went kayaking with a Danish family, Karina, Brian, David, and Freyja. Freyja is fourteen, and she really wanted to bungy jump. It was exciting waiting with her for her turn, and watching her make the leap.