Rotorua

Then on to the hot springs and steam vents and bubbling mud of Rotorua. I wanted to see burbling mud, and there's a park in the centre of town where we could wander to our hearts' content.

There are steam vents EVERYWHERE in this area, makes you wonder just how safe it is to live there. Gad, I'd worry some fissure was going to open up under my house! The smell is a bit hard to take at first, but I'm told you get used to it. Rotten eggs isn't quite my cuppa, but no one seems to care.

The park was great fun. Besides seeing (and taking LOTS of pictures) of bubbling mud and steam vents and really cool winding trees, I got to put my legs in a hot pool. Pretty cool. Almost worth the drive in Ralph the Behemouth to find a place to park. I can't imagine trying to drive in Rotorua in high season!

We passed a sign for the Rotorua Pipe Band, but didn't have a chance to track them down. Drat!