And at the end of a thermal day - more!

So, here we are at the public pools in Rotorua. The smell is something else (Joyce, great place for you) but it felt sooo good!

Waimangu Volcanic Valley

The others went back to Roto, but we went on to this valley. The volcanic and thermal activity is very recent here and interesting too. We walked for a couple of hours down and then, thankfully, took a shuttle back up!

more thermal

the colours were amazing and so toxic

Amazing thermals

Lovely walk around the thermal area. The colours were tremendous but would be even better earlier in the season with more water. We are late summer and drought.

Rotorua trips

We did two trips outside Rotorua. This area is famous for the thermal volcanic activity, hot springs, sulphur and mud. The first stop was Wai-O-Tapu so we could see some mud pools and a small geyser.

Coromandel town next!

After the little train, we went to town and the information site. There we were told we'd probably done all we could so we headed for Rotorua. What else?

Coromandel town

We headed to a recommended spot f0r breakfast - at Drivers Creek. If you want to find any remaining hippies, come here! I spotted a number of cars parked down the road and asked whatthat was. A potter, Barry Brickell, got this 60 acre property some years ago. He started this little railway to get clay and was only to go about 200 metres from the forge. Well, 27 years and 2.6km later is this lovingly built railway. It makes model railroaders' hearts thump. The tracks are all hand laid and the tunnels built lovely murals. the retaining walls are built with old bottles (glad to help!). The train cars are little, but get all the visitors to the amazing views at the top. He has protected the area from things like possums etc and has planted over 17000 native trees. The property, on his death, will go to the conservation authority. Rather amazing.