Da Life in Da Auzzie~: July 2008

We left Auckland very early in the morning (7am) as we will have only that day to visit Rotorua and will be on a very tight schedule. Thus, even before the sun was up we were up, and before the sky is bright we have already checked out and is on our way to Rotorua, the city that lies on top of a lotta volcanic activity.

Spotted a full rainbow

On the way

Got into some foggy situation

Trying to figure out where are we

Kuirau Public Park

We arrived @ Rotorua 1030am in the morning, and went to visit the first attraction, the Kuirau Public Park. The reason for visiting that park? Its free! You get to see boiling underground water and smell the sulphuric air and see steam popping out from no where in this park.

The girls

Me n Jia

Yes, these stuff can be pretty hot

Kuirau Park

We left that place after approximately 35 minutes, and went to the place the town is named after, Lake Rotorua.

Lake Rotorua

I have to say, this place is just totally superbly gorgeous. We walked around the lakeside enjoying scenaries and fresh air, and after that visited an on-going flea market nearby. The whole feeling of this place is just too great.

Rotorua

Awed by the view

A lake that is so huge that it looks like an ocean

Tranquility

Me n Jia

The flea market

Stalls

This guy is pretty darn good in playing his culture's instruments. We bought a CD from him =P

SH n HY looking around

We left that place finally after an hour plus, had Subway for lunch near the town center, then head off to find our motel to check in.

Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

As we found our motel and tried checking-in, we were told that the room is not ready and is asked to return at around 3pm. At that point, we were deciding between two thermal parks to visit, either the Waimangu or Wai-O-Tapu. After talking to the motel lady and discussing among ourselves, we decided to visit the futher Wai-O-Tapu. We had no regrets.

Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

Toilet...and bicycle...you have to cycle to the toilet? 0_0

SH and HY

Safety precaution

Me n Jia infront of Devil's Home

The Three Emo Girls

The perfect weather

Boiling mud

Me n Jia

Some weird stuff growing on the branches

All of us in front of...something -_-

A walkway that goes through a wide span of volcanic activity

Me n Jia

Jia emo-ing?

Not sure whats there to eat but...birds love picking around these toxic places

Me n HY, with Jia in the background. Some pretty weird pic =P

The girls

Scenary

Sulphur precipitation

Shadows

Me with SH and HY

Jia surrounded by steam

Some cool-colored lake

A pretty cool stitching done by Jia

The whole park took us more than 3 hours to finish, and drained both our cameras dry. However, the entrance fee is worth its every cent for what we are being offered to see, learn and enjoy.

Devonwood Manor Motel

We went straight back to the motel, checked in (its already almost 5pm), and took our turns to shower. The motel cost us NZD130 per night, which is pretty cheap, but the room's pretty crappy as well.

The outside of Devonwood Manor Motel

The entrance of our unit

The room

The bathroom, which floods like mad when we shower

Though sucky, it still served the purpose of us budget travellers and one good thing is that we can park our car right outside our door, which make loading and unloading much easier.

Dinner @ Fat Dog's Cafe

After settling down and all showered and fresh, we head out to the city to find a place that is recommended by the Lonely Planet guide book, Fat Dog's Cafe.

Fat Dog's Cafe

This place is just good. Extremely comfortable atmosphere, good food, unique styling (there is no one same set of tables and chairs), friendly staff, and very very comfy.