6KiwiWannabes: Taking the Cure: Rotorua, Day 1

Well, in this year of vacation, we needed a break, so we're on holiday this week. We've decided to check out the most popular vacation areas on the North Island: Rotorua, Bay of Plenty, and Lake Taupo. Today was our first day in Rotorua, which is known for amazing geothermal activity. It's also known for it's extreme sulphuric odor. We were told, and it's true, that you can smell Rotorua before you can see it. But we have gotten used to the smell and only gag occasionally...

We started out the morning by going to a local craft market by Lake Rotorua. We then found Kuirau Park and had a great walk around the geothermal pools and ponds.

A few pictures of the bubbling mud and water pools.

This boiling area has just come to surface and has been cordoned off with fencing.

A few family pics

To counteract the sulphur smells, they have a lovely scented garden in the park.

After all that walking around, we needed some Starbucks to keep us going! We also took a look around the CBD and scoped out some good souvenir shops to stop at when we have time.

After lunch it was time to "Take the Cure" at the Polynesian Spa. Rotorua has been famous for it's thermal spas since the 19th century. I had the mud polish and aix massage combo. It was heavenly. Cris and the kids swam in the Family Spa and hot mineral pools and had a great time, too.

After playing and relaxing we were starving. We happened upon the most charming pizza restaurant, The Pizza Library Co. We ordered three pizzas: Charlottes Web, James & the Giant Peach, and The Jungle Book. Yum yum! We ordered take away, but couldn't resist taking a few pics as we waited.