Big Smells, Big Cities and Big Volcanoes!

No, we still haven't booked our flight home yet! I promise we will tomorrow or the next day or two and you will be the first to know :)

This past week has been filled with exploration and, well, a little relaxation! A very memorable spot on our trip here to New Zealand has been Rotorua. We had heard about this "Sulpher City" with its bubbling mud pools, gurgling hot springs, gushing geysers and the eggy smells and couldn't wait to check it out. It turns out that it has once again paid tremendously to talk to the locals and we found a natural hot spring that we spent the day in for free. It didn't smell as bad as I would have imagined (it was the mud pools that stank!) and it was such a relaxing day and such a different experience. We also found a spot called "Butcher's Pool" that was even warmer than that one and also free! Later that evening we checked into our hostel/campground and there was another hot pool at this place! It was an awesome day to say the very least.

The next day we drove to Auckland to check out New Zealand's biggest city. We spent the night at a pretty shady, dirty campground and the next day went for a walk around the city. It was a windy and rainy day but Elliot managed to snap some nice pictures. We made our way up to the top of Mt. Eden just in time to have lunch overlooking the City.

That night (after many hours of driving) we decided to look for a place to park our van and stay the night (for free) but we having trouble finding the perfect location. It was after dark and we decided to drive up one last road which had a "point of interest" on our map. We took the short road and then we couldn't turn around! When we got to the top there was a very friendly lady who explained to us that we had embarked upon the largest Marae in New Zealand. A Marae is a sacred place to the Maori people but is open to anyone of any religion or culture. After hearing that we were looking for a place to just park for the night they opened their gates and told us to make ourselves at home. The next day they were quick to offer us tea and hot showers and then gladly showed us around the grounds. They were such lovely hospitable people and we thank them for their generosity. It was also so nice to have a chance to get to know the background of the Maori culture a little better.

Today was a relaxing drive and we took the time to go and see Mt. Ruapeau (the largest mountain in the North Island) and also the grounds for the ski hill Whakapapa. All of which are active volcanoes! Tomorrow we will be making our way to Wellington and then taking the ferry to the South Island either Friday or Saturday because we fly to Thailand on Monday!!!

'Till next time,

Love, Amy & Elliot x