Rotorua. It rained when we first got there, but the 3rd was beautiful. We wanted to see the geothermal pools and the redwood trees, so a-tramping we went! It was all mostly flat, but we walked for a good 6 hours.
First we walked past Lake Rotorua.
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| Lake Rotorua, full of birds |
Then we got up to the geothermal pools. They were very steamy and smelly, just like Yellowstone.
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| Geothermal pools |
Then as we walked along past Lake Rotorua, there was a section called the Sulfur Bay. Definitely!
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| Along Lake Rotorua |
We were busy taking pictures, and going along the water. After a while we realized we had somehow slipped past a boundary line; we weren't supposed to be there! Ah well, no one got hurt!
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| At the edge of the lake |
The path we were taking started going through the woods for the longest time. I actually saw a few pukekos, one of New Zealand's most famous birds (though not endangered). Unfortunately, no pictures, but here's what they look like:
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| Pukeko! (image from the web) |
I guess they are fairly common, so I hope I see some more!
Our walk finally took us to the redwood forest. We went on an hour and a half walk through the forest.
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| Redwood forest |
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| Redwood |
In the visitor center, they had cutouts of some trees. I guess these trees grow much faster than the ones in California. After only 100 years, they are very big!
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| Hugging the redwood |
The path started winding up through the woods. Suddenly we were in a fern forest!
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| Ferns! |
It got humid and just green everywhere. I love the giant ferns! They are all over here. The silver fern is the most famous.
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| Giant ferns |
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| Unfurling frond |
I really just love the ferns. They are so big!
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| Holding a dead branch |
All in all, it was a long hike, but it was really great! We saw so many different things in just one walk!
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| Walking through the bush |
At the end of the day, we went and had a real dinner. It was Stephanie's birthday! I got a lamb burger, which was delicious.
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| Lamb burger |
We also went to a cool farmer's market they had at night. Rotorua was great!
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