Located at the cauldron of a dormant volcanic mountain, Rotorua enjoys warmer weather than its neighbours.
They had their last snow fifty years ago, which didn’t even last a day. We spent some time roaming around the city before settling in for the night at the best bed and breakfast I have ever had. Every time we passed a certain part of town, despite my repeated explanation of the sulphur smell, Fafa was convinced that someone nearby had farted. So on our last morning there, I took him to the fart smell source, Rotorua geyser Whakarewarewa, one of Rotorua’s geothermal sites, located close to the city centre, so that we could enjoy our time without feeling rushed to catch the bus back to Auckland.
The first thing that caught my attention, other than the rotten egg smell, was the boiling mud pools. The mud is rich in minerals, making it very good for the skin. They even have SPAs in Rotorua that cater for people to soak in it. You can also buy the mudpack to take home and pop it over your face, far from the weird looks of others.
And there was the geyser, Pohutu, which means “big splash” (the biggest one in the southern hemisphere). It is the main geyser of the area, spurts up to twenty times per day, and can reach heights of up to 100 feet, a seriously awesome natural phenomenon to see.
Due to the wind, we got a little wet from the splash, though it was no longer hot by the time it got to us. I got reminded of Vivian, who used to put sulphur water on her face as a quick beauty fix in Hakone, and nothing to argue here; she has flawless skin.
The tour guide explained about Maori carvings and the geothermal activities on this site. He told us they would offer Maori carving scholarships to four male students to study traditional carving yearly. Once they graduate, they usually return to their hometown to continue their work and teach their tribe. Interested to learn about these carvings? One of the requirements is that you must be a Maori descendant, even if only one-sixteenth, and also be a male. Guess I am stuck with scrapbooking for now!
We didn’t spend much time at the Rotorua geyser site; how long can you stare at the boiling mud pool? If I had more time, I would stay more than a night in Rotorua, visit the Wai Ta O Po for the colourful geothermal lake, and try the mud bath. I only got the mud face mask this time and have been scaring people off ever since.
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[…] up the hill, City Lights the Rotorua BnB was a fifteen-minute drive from the city centre. It was a rectangular house with a red door. […]