And now onto the bit of Aotearoa that I know a lot better. I decided to visit one of the spots I’ve neglected in my last couple of visits – the geologically hyperactive region around Rotorua – complete with steaming landscapes it’s definitely one way to keep the damp chill at bay.
After a quick stop in Palmerston North to catch up with a friend (which, somehow, still managed to involve wine tastings after we discovered Pohangina Estate) I set aside a little time to re-acquaint myself with the Thermal Highway sights, smells and sounds as I’ve not been round this way for a good 20 years (plus I had set myself the life goal of swimming in a thermal waterfall and I’d heard there was one around there somewhere).
Pro-tip: If you visit Wai-O-Tapu Thermal wonderland and you don’t mind missing the 10am geyser display, I recommend getting there at around the time the site opens and just going straight into the park. 95% of visitors will be milling about in the gift shop waiting to head to the geyser and you’ll have all the time in the world to do an extensive 90 minute exploration of the park before you start seeing any serious crowds – which means people free photos and quiet serenity.
Spent my final few days in Auckland hanging out in the lovely north shore with one of my oldest and dearest friends (who has the good fortune to live away from the worst of that city’s traffic chaos nightmare), including a day trip to Waiheke Island.
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