Nearby where I lived in New Zealand, a picturesque lake lay hidden. Māori for “greenstone lake”, Rotopounamu emulates its name. Unfortunately my photos do not do it justice but trust me, it as green as an emerald and just as precious. The Lake is located within the Tongaririo National Park, mid-North Island, on the western … More Fill a Crater with Water…
Lord of the Rings fans know it as Mt Doom – the volcano where the One Ring was created, and after extensive travels with Gollum and the Hobbits, the place of its destruction. The rest of us peeps know it as Mt Ngauruhoe, the aesthetically-pleasing volcanic cone of Tongariro National Park. To access Mt Ngauruhoe, … More One Explosive Hike!
Close to my home in NZ, is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. The Crossing is rated as one of the best hikes worldwide and at a mere 19.4km, it takes hikers/trampers through a spectacularly varied alpine landscape. The Department of Conservation (DOC) estimates the Crossing takes 7 to 9 hours to complete, and as it took me … More These (Hiking) Boots Were Made For Walking…
Lets be honest, gas is funny. We know this from the countless kids fart books that are now readily available. Gas equals hilarity, but unless the Gasser has eaten something really toxic, bystanders usually remain conscious. Enter Cameron’s Laughing Gas Pool. Once again, I am writing about Sulphur Point, on the southern end of Lake … More A Bath of Laughs
In a previous post regarding The Coffee Pot, I mention Sulphur Point. But where and what, pray tell, is Sulphur Point? No, it’s not the smelly beginnings of Hell. It is actually a small peninsula at the southern end of Lake Rotorua. After wandering through Government Gardens (a beautiful, free public garden), we accidentally found the … More Burn, Baby, Burn
After a strenuous day, week or month of adventuring, there is nothing quite like a relaxing spa to re-energise the soul and clean those dirty feet. So after mountain biking, ZORBing, kayaking, shweebing and swooping my way through Rotorua, I made a beeline for the Polynesian Spa. My adventure-rattled nerves deserved it! First, a history … More I’m Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot
Whaka-where, you say? Why, Whakarewarewa of course! Whakarewarewa – The Living Maori Village is a uniquely stunning, albeit slightly whiffy, geothermal wonderland located in Rotorua in New Zealand’s North Island. Found aptly along the Thermal Explorer Highway, Whakarewarewa is not only a tourist attraction, it is also the home for people of the Tūhourangi/Ngati Wahiao tribe. … More Whaka-where?
Most people are familiar with the smell associated with Rotorua, but did you know Taupo has its own gassy aromas? Contrary to popular belief, I did not create the stink. Taupo, situated along the Thermal Explorer Highway in the North Island, has an extensive geothermal history including the mystical, lunar-like Craters of the Moon. There … More Smell ya later!
JeNZ Guide 