Epic New Zealand Road Trip - Thermal Wonderland and Zorbing

Feb 15th
It was going to be a more relaxing day, but it was packed with activities. We checked out of Plateau Lodge in the Tongariro National Park to head north to visit the Thermal Wonderland in Waiotapu. On the way, we stopped at a coffee shop where they topped our coffee cups with pieces of licorice. The first thing we did at Thermal Wonderland was visiting Lady Knox Geyser. After watching her induced eruption at 10:15am, we walked around the geothermal park to see its collapsed craters, mud pools, sulphurous pools, lakes, hot springs, waterfalls, vents, sulphur crystals, and more in a showcase of vivid colors.

This is a mud pool.

We then drove on to Rotorua where we stopped at the Polynesian Spa in hope for a massage for each of us, but could not book them. We ate lunch and booked two private hot pools for later. Then we went zorbing. None of us had “zorb” before and nothing in our imagination could have prepared us the experience of being in a giant plastic ball, partly filled with water, rolling down a hill. We split up into two pairs and went down a zig-zag hill. I was thinking that was enough for me, but when Liên and Satomi said they wanted to do it again, I agreed to go on another round with three people. This time we chose a straight hill. It was more fun with three people and this time we were able to videotape ourselves using Debbie’s cell phone with a waterproof case.

We checked in our rental apartment. Debbie and I stayed back to organize and relax while Liên and Satomi went to the Whakarewarewa Redwood Forest to see it in the daylight. When they got back, we returned to the Polynesian Spa for our private hot pools. We were there early and had time to peruse the gift shop where Liên found a swimsuit to her liking. I bought it as a birthday gift for her. The private hot pool was very nice and we wish we had more time. 

We decided to leave the car at the Spa and walked to town from there for dinner. The restaurant of our choice happens to be in a very lively square with tons of restaurants, shops, and people. They didn’t have a table for us right away, so we picked a quieter place with fewer patrons. That was okay because the food at Ambrosia was very good and we shared another delicious cheese board.   

After dinner we went to the Whakarewarewa Redwood Forest to do the Redwoods Treewalk in the dark. We waited forever in line and when it was finally our turn, it was almost as if we were all alone in the forest. I suppose there is some magic in the dark, I do wish to see it in the day light also.