Geysers!!!

We headed out for the day and went to explore the little downtown area of Rotorua. It was actually pretty cute and was far enough away from the geothermal to not smell. Score!

We got weak and needed "American" coffee

We spent a bit of time people-watching before heading to Te Puia, the geothermal park. It was a bit pricey to get in ($30 USD each), but since the big geyser did go off for us so all was well.

geothermal activity

Thinking about erupting

I love the water color!

They still use the steam to cook today!

Petefish.

YAY! It erupted!

Petefish. (again.)

PŌHUTU GEYSER

Mud pots

Totem poles

The park was beautiful

They still use this boiling water to cook today!

A typical hut

A view of the park again

Jackson hanging in the hut

A Grace Coomes look-a-like holding the national
bird, a Kiwi

We spent a little over two hours exploring the park before deciding we'd had enough and walking back to the hotel to get our car and grab some lunch. We grabbed food and headed out to a park to have a little picnic. It was lovely.

An old bathhouse, now a museum

"PIT-ah PIT" picnic

First time watching croquet

We were able to snap a quick photo on the way out of town. Doesn't it look like a typical American town? So weird!

See what I mean about looking American?!

We made the 3 hour drive back to Auckland, got the rental car returned (after a big hunt for a gas station) and took an Uber into town. We enjoyed our Uber driver. It seriously feels like sometimes that is the best way to meet locals! 

Views of Auckland Harbour

We are staying at a Crowne Plaza and have access to the club lounge. We stopped up there for drinks (Jackson) and a few snacks before heading out to explore town a bit.

BEST MEXICAN FOOD IN NEW ZEALAND

We heard that there was a Mexican place right by the hotel that was amazing so we stopped in. It was SO good!

The Sky Tower

We wandered around town a bit longer before retiring for the evening. We're looking forward to a couple of more days exploring the "big city."