Exploring Rotorua

My first New Zealand sunset in Rotorua
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We've been in Rotorua now for a couple of days.  We called Stray (the tour company) to book our bus out of here, but unfortunately we can't get out until the 7th.  No worries though.  I actually really like it here.  You do get used to the smell, though sometimes you'll get a whiff and think "What the hell?" but they aren't as often as when we first got here.

I've done a lot of exploring/walking around.  Rotorua is an easy place to get around in.  You never get lost...well you probably could, but because we're right next to a hospital, all we have to do is follow the hospital signs and we're there.  Its pretty cool.

Private beach

The path that I walked down without thinking
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Today I went out on my own as Lisa wanted to go Luging.  I wasn't feeling up to it so I thought I'd stretch the old muscles and have a look around Government gardens.  It was a nice place.  A lot of old people playing cricket and lawn bowling I want to say (not 100% sure).  The museum cost a fortune to go in so I skipped that.  I walked along the lake and came across a pathway.  Now something inside did tell me that I should not go down a dark pathway by myself.  But who am I too listen?  So off I went the whole time thinking that there was someone in the bushes LOL.  But what an amazing find at the end of the trail, that it made it all worth it.  I had my own private beach to lay on.  It was so cool.  So thats what I did for the rest of the afternoon.  I relaxed on the hot sand and watched the black swans swimming around.  One came very close to me.  I remember reading in my Lonely planet to be careful as they bite...so I didn't go too close.

My private beach at the other end
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Later I walked to the thermal activity area after having New Zealand's best icecream.  It was pretty good.  Here I walked along and could feel the heat rising from the water.  In the pictures you can actually see it.  I saw boiling mud (exciting I know) and sat in my very own hot pool.  I'm definitely relaxing here thats for sure.

Till next time,

Roseanna