Rotorua

The next stop of our little North-Island-trip was Rotorua, the north island´s counterpart to Queenstown on the South Island.

As soon as we passed the gates of the city, a penetrating sulfur-reek embraced and welcomed us to the North Island´s adventure capital. Our first stop was "Te Puia", where we explored the local natural hot springs and two geysers.

Steam was evaporating from the hot water-basins and wrapped the whole area into a fog-like, sulphur-smelling vapour.

Erupting to a height of up to 30m up to 20 times a day, the "Pohutu"-geyser (covered in steam on the left side of the picture above) is not only a spectacular sight, but also the most reliable geyser on earth according to the Te Puia website. Although it didn´t reach its maximum height that day, it was still pretty impressive with a steady outbreak of about 10 or 12 meters.

Another attraction in the Te Puia recreational area in Rotorua was a replica of a traditional Māori village. Here Marcell is sitting in front of a miniature-Māori house. Isn´t the face on the gable of the house quite similar to Marcell´s face?

To the jar and disapproval of my parents I´ve decided to permanently settle down in New Zealand. So here you can see me trying to build my first own home ;)   

Apart from the hot pools, the two geysers and the Māori village, Te Puia had another attraction to offer: plenty of boiling-hot mud pools. Unfortunately too hot to bath in it.

After exploring Te Puia for about two hours or so it was time for us to leave this lovely spot and move on to our next site: the Rotorua Red Woods. The vast Red Wood forest had numerous different hikes to offer, ranching from 20 minutes to up to five hour hikes. Due to our shortage in time Marcell and I decided to go for one of the short walks.

Tranquil and mystical atmosphere in the Red Woods.

And then it was already time for our last attraction in Rotorua, the Ogo zorbing. For those of you who have never heard of zorbing (as me e.g., before I came here to New Zealand): zorbing is the sport of rolling downhill inside an orb, made of transparent plastic.The orbs are loaded onto a trailer and brought to the upper terminus of the track where they are then filled with some warm water. Then you jump into the orb, a guy from the track closes the inlet and off you go.

Rolling down the hill in your zorb is heaps of fun.

Once you´re done with the zorbing you can relax in one of the various Jacuzzis.  

The door of the changing room at the zorbing track; especially interesting/funny for my dear fellow molecular-medicine students I guess ;)

That was our day in Rotorua, packed with action and adrenaline.