Two Beers and a Pretzel

Today was just as fun-packed as the last 2 days.

We started touring the grounds of the old government building in Rotoura, which is reputedly the most photographed building in New Zealand.

Then to a nearby geyser that erupts at 10:15 every morning.  We were suspicious of that, but it is a real geyser.  A park ranger dumps soap down the vent and the hot water surges past the cold upper layer as the thermal barrier is broken by the soap.  They say that if they didn’t use the soap that it would erupt naturally every 3 days.  Kinda fake, but real enough…

Then went to a better geothermal park just outside of town that had some really pretty features…

And some ugly ones…

We hit up a store that makes and sells many different variaties of honey (and a honey-mead wine that was really good).  Here’s Mandy and me at the goofy entrance sign…

We saw a wickedly fast river with a deadly waterfall (you’re not allowed to raft it by law)…

Then some of us did a 47m (157 ft) bungee jump over a different part of the river.  My 1st real bungee jump ever and I opted to go off backwards…

They mis-dialed the weight, so I was about a foot short of touching the river.  I’ll try to upload the video soon…

Finally, on to Taupo – on the shores of Lake Taupo – across from the real mountain that served as Mt. Doom in the Lord of the Rings movies.  I hit golf balls at the volcano (trying to win $5000NZD).  The conical peak of Mt Doom (really Mount Ngauruhoe) is actually in the clouds in this photo – just left of center…  A little farther left in the image is the non-conical Mount Ruapehu – The largest active volcano in New Zealand, the highest point on the North Island, and one of the most active volcanoes on Earth…

It’s a nice town that doesn’t smell bad, so I like it…

I also bought some souvenirs – a very nice real Leatherman (my fake one is in the Lima airport since I left it in my carry-on bag, but this one is expensive, so I’ll be sure to remember to pack it), and a new North Face hiking jacket – because a group of us are doing one of New Zealand’s most popular treks tomorrow – crossing the Southern Alps – near those active volcanoes…

Sorry to leave everyone in the dark for a few days…  It got much better….  So do the pictures (thanks for calling out my crappy photos, Alan).

On the 30th I caught the “Magic Bus” backpacker’s tour bus.  Since it’s after the peak season, they are giving you the South Island tour for $1NZ when you buy the North Island tour for $500NZ.  The deal includes guided tour bus transport along the major routes, and discounts on activities and hostels as you go.  Being alone and not liking the vibe in Auckland, I thought the guided tour was the way to go… and I was right.  There’s a lot of fun people on this bus.

We toured around Auckland for a while, including a lookout where you could see a panorama of the city…

And the famous “One Tree Hill” (like the U2 song – back when they actually made good music) where the tree no longer stands because the Brits cut the original tree down in the 1800′s and planted a new tree.  Then in the early 1990′s the Maori locals demanded that the ‘impostor’ tree be removed and a native tree planted.  There’s a monument there now…

Then we headed South to Waitomo where we all saw Angora Rabbits being sheared.

They put these fluffy rabbits on a rack to stretch their wrinkly skin smooth and start shaving…

Then a number of us booked a “Blackwater Rafting” trip.  This is actually tubing in a subterranean river – a combination of spelunking and tubing with glow worms all around.  The pics were from the DVD that a number of us pitched in for, and obviously use the camera flash.  In reality, we were floating in cold water in a pitch black crevasse with a ceiling full of glow worms in patterns that remind you of stargazing at the milky way.

Then we ‘chained’ up and floated as a group…

There were a few places where they made you jump, and one really big slide – all in near total darkness.

After lunch the bus headed to Rotoura – the most visited tourist destination in New Zealand.  The city was built on a lake that is part of a caldera left behind when the volcano erupted and collapsed in on itself, so there are a lot of geothermal features like mud pots, steamers, springs, and geysers.  The entire town is full of hot springs, and steam vents, making it smell like a putrid mix of rotten eggs and decaying flesh – the practical upshot of which is that you can fart with impunity, as most people with thank you for improving the local air quality.

A large group of us also booked a Maiori cultural tour and dinner.  A bus picked us up and took us a bit outside of town to a site that recreates a native Maiori village, where some Maiori descendants put on a show that includes ancient tribal war dances.  They also act out a story of the introduction of guns into their culture.

You learn a bunch of chants, chose a chief for your tour group… Then you sit down to a Maiori traditional meal – which surprizingly resembled a fully catered Thanksgiving dinner (ok, it actually was turkey, stuffing, potatoes, cranberry sauce, etc…).

Back at the hostel, we relaxed in the geothermally heated swimming pool.

The next day – on the 31st, a few of us went Whitewater rafting on a short 1.4Km chunk of river.  This sounds way too short, but it includes a 2m waterfall followed immediately by a 1m fall, then a bit later the largest single drop waterfall that (they claim) you can raft anywhere in the world…  7 meters (23.3ft).  Here’s a compilation of still shots of my boat going over the falls…

We made it…

Luckily, right next to the rafting office is Hell’s Gate Geothermal Park and Spa where we all took mud baths after touring the park.  The park was lackluster by Yellowstone standards, and even though my new sexy self is 45 lbs lighter than 5 months ago – you don’t want to see my naked body with strategically placed packs of mud…  Thus, you get to see the goofy sign at the park entrance…