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Tag Archives: must do activities

Five things to do in Rotorua on a budget

20/07/201921/07/2019

Rotorua is an absolute must if you are visiting the north island of New Zealand. It’s a 3 hour drive from Auckland and offers many natural things to see, as well as adventures to part-take in.

You can spend a stack of money and try to do it all, or you can be selective and do many things for free.

This is what we got up to but is in no means exhaustive.

  1. Visit the mud pools

On the way to Wai-O-Tea the thermogeographic springs are two sites that are free and definitely worth visiting. You can go into the tourist park for $32 per adult and walk around and see the colourful springs and geothermal marvels.

On the way to the tourist centre is a geyser (where Mother Nature lets of some steam in a long vertical “spit”). Called Lady Knox Geyser, this one sprays at 10.15am every day. But only once a day.

Another marvel is the mud pools on the way in. It’s barely a detour and worth getting out and witnessing mother earth as she let’s off some steam. The clay mud is used in beauty treatments and facial masks/moisturisers and of course for anti-ageing. You can purchase most of these at all the tourist shops but don’t be surprised to fork out a lot of dough in exchange for a dollop of mud!

  • Visit the Polynesian Spa

We arrive into town late from Auckland and are very happy to discover that the Polynesian Spa is open until 11pm.

With multiple hot tubs (more like pools) littered throughout the grounds and idealytically located on the rim of Lake Rotorua, it is the perfect place to relax and unwind.

The hot springs are straight from the earth subterran and are steaming hot and very smelly.

Bob around the various pools to find your temperature and don’t be spa rookies like us and find the “hottest” corner and nearly pass out from over heating.

You can take your own supplies in, so make the most of it.

There is another spa near Wai O Tea which is cheaper and apparently nicer according to a local, but I really like being able to sit on the rim of the lake.

  • Visit the Redwood Forest

A little out of town is the majestic Redwood Forest.

There’s a bit to do here and a great place to defrag from life.

You can catch a shuttle to the top and ride a mountain bike through one of it’s many trails, or you can walk along the forest floor without paying an admission fee.

If you would like to experience the trees at a higher height, you can purchase a pass along the sky walk, or after hours you can walk through the forest top to an illuminated light show. It is actually very pretty and worth the visit.

  • Visit the thermal springs in town

If you are after something a little closer to town, or don’t have wheels, check out the Kuirau Park right in town. It is a large park with many geo active ponds and steaming creeks to give you an idea of the uniqueness of the area.

On Saturday mornings there is a modest food market and is nice to stroll around.

  • Visit Kerosene Creek

Out side of town is Kerosene Creek. It is definitely worth the effort and will take about 20 minutes to get there from the centre of town.

A slippery path weaves along side the warm creek and offers many places for you to enter and bath in the warm waters of the creek. It is only  warm and can get quite busy but we venture all the way to the end of the trail and discover an absolute treat. A private part of the creek where there are no people and the creek bed is steamy hot. Relaxing in the waters in the middle of nature is truly amazing.

Unfortunately the down side is the human foot print – beware of broken glass and bottles that people have left behind and thieves working the car park!

There really are many things to do and the skyline is also a must. On the sky line hill there are activities such as mountain biking, luge,

A minimum 2 night stay if you are going to Rotorua.

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Volcano Winery Rotorua

20/07/201920/07/2019

It’s a dramatically cooling off day in Rotorua and a must-do is the skyline hill. There are a swag of activities to part take in, including wine tasting.

We head out to the Skyline and purchase the gondola ride (which is actually really worth it and reminds me of Switzerland) and 3 luge passes. The costings and options are here.

The wines are NZ wines and if you are not planning on going to a specific wine region this is the next best thing.

It’s actually quite an OK deal if you are traveling with children.

So off the gondola to the top. The ride takes you over the international Mons Extreme sports track which is stunning. We spot a herd of deers happily munching on the slops and as the climb continues draw breath at the quite spectacular views.

Once at the top, the clouds open up! Like teaming rain.

We decide to take shelter in Volcanic Hills Winery.

So we figure a wine is a good pause, especially as we are about to challenge ourselves to luge.

The staff at the winery are extremely friendly and feel like old friends. Even Georgia who assures us she is an introvert.

Delightfully indulged with wines (very approachable wines I might add), chit chasing with Johnny about his life and him inquiring about our, we whittle away a lazy few hours taking in the views of Rotorua.

It’s a wonderful incidental side trip.

OH – we decide not to luge as it was really cold and raining and very nicely they staff extended our expiring on the luge so we can revisit in a few weeks and use the passes then.

Highly recommend.

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The Snubtip Dolphin and Broome Whale Watching

06/12/201606/12/2016

 I knew from the minute I made my booking that my experience with Broome Whale Watching was going to be a professional, relaxed trip.

Cameron, the captain and owner of the tour company,  has taking guests in search of whales and sea life for years. He is a local, born and bred (just up the road, which is 300km away)!

With a massive depth of local knowledge and a genuine care for the wild life in this incredible bay,  Cameron (and his staff) will take you on an experience that you won’t forget.

My experience went a little like this…

Pick up from my accommodation in a bus- air conditioned, spacious and clean… I decided at that point to leave all the worry, stress and anxieties to the never never and to trust that all would be ok. And it was!

The bus took us to the Jetty where we ventured to a nearby tender and were escorted to the catamaran.

Once on the catamaran we were made to feel like it was a second home. Take your shoes off, put them in the box and feel free to roam around the boat.

There were plenty of places to hang out, and chill.

There were two toilets on board, plenty of under shade areas and if you were melting you could go underneath to the air-con cabin.

The kids were really well catered for which is a bonus if you have to travel with them.

Ok to the BEST bits.

We headed out to the current in Roebuck Bay and followed the channel along the coast line looking for the incredible snub tip dolphin, or “snubbies” to locals.

Only recognised as a new species in 2005 (!) they have drawn attention for naturalists and sea lovers, including David Attenborough who visited only a short time ago.

They are beautiful little creatures and are only found in small numbers around the world, putting them on the endangered list. It is estimated there are 1000-3000 only globally.

With 170 of them playing and being delightful little critters in Roebuck Bay.

I loved the little details Cameron gave about the dolphins – they have a neck that extends so they can itch their tummies. They hang around in pods of 8-10.

He recognises many of the families from scars and markings on the dolphins.

You can see he is passionate about their conservation and wants to share them with the world.

After flirting with the darling dolphins for awhile, we head off in search of turtles and dugongs.

We learn all about the sea bed, the important role it plays with global warming.. how it traps carbon and dredging is leading to a rise in global carbon…

We spot a few turtles who break the water and dive quick as they are hunted by locals… turtles are still a favorite meal of the Australian indigenous population.

Apparently six of hte world’s seven turtles are found in this bay.

The bay also has the second highest tidal flow in the world.

After seeing a few turtles, and spot a dugong munching on the seabed we meander back to town.

Feeling pretty spoilt with teh wild life, and incredible water and sun, we are also treated to food. First up are cakes, then a quiche, then delicious fruit salad.

Finally when I thought the experience couldn’t get better, we are offered a cold face cloth! Superb.

I can highly recommend doing this activity and urge you to go iwth Cameron and his crew.

It is a very interesting day and the best way to learn about conservation and our remarkable planet.

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