We were warned about the sulfur smell in Rotorua, but it didn't seem nearly as bad as in Yellowstone National Park. We checked out of the hostel after visiting the geothermal pools (bubbling mud) in the middle of the park right across from the hostel and took pictures of the Rotorua museum, and then visited the Whakarewarewa Thermal Village to see a "living" Maori village that utilizes the geothermal features of the land for cooking, bathing and heating their homes.
Our tickets included a cultural performance (we saw the poi dance and a haka war dance), a guided tour, and a hangi taster lunch (cooked in a geothermal pool; corned beef, chicken, potatoes, cabbage, corn and steamed pudding with custard for dessert- Denise could have had a whole extra portion of the dessert!). This was definitely worth the visit.
On our way to Taupo (1 hour from Rotorua), we stopped at the Honey Hive (honey tastings and I bought some honey-apricot spread) and the Huka Falls. One interesting thing that we didn't know about New Zealand is that they LOVE their fried chicken- we've never so many KFCS (really nice KFCs with dining rooms and drive-thrus) ever before!
We checked in to another hostel- BASE Taupo. This one had a much younger clientele- I felt old and Corey kept referring to the other guests as "kids". We were given 2-for-1 drink coupons for the bar next door upon check-in and they announced additional drink specials over the PA system in the evening. The room and ensuite bathroom was nice, but it felt like college all over again.
We took pictures of Lake Taupo and used the free internet at the McDonald's McCafe to research hotels in Wellington. Ate dinner at an Indian restaurant (best butter chicken I've ever had!) and bought groceries for breakfast and for a picnic lunch tomorrow for when we go hiking. We bought cheese and salami at the deli, and the guy at the deli counter asked us if we wanted a big slice of ham to munch on...he picked it up and just handed it to Corey, so Corey walked around the Countdown eating a giant piece of ham AFTER we already ate dinner. It was situation of a too-nice Kiwi and Corey's inability to pass up pork, especially FREE pork- too funny. Other great things about New Zealand: they don't have pennies or nickels in New Zealand, cash purchases are rounded up or down to the nearest 10 cents, and every price listed is the final price (it includes taxes)- the US could really learn from the Kiwis here.
We had a hard time sleeping because the girls' dorm room was next door, but once they got busted for having alcohol, things quieted down. Don't think we'll stay at another BASE hostel, but it reaffirms why eye masks and ear plugs are standard issue on our packing lists.
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1 comment:
Yikes, sounds like a bad hostel experience. How's Corey handling the "short" beds?!
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