DeeKnow’s Grotto

Kym and I began to panic a little after xmas day coz we were looking down the barrel of the end of the holiday without really having done bugger all. So we packed up the car and headed off to Vegas.

Roto-vegas that is, of the sulphur-smelling kind. The weather was crap but that's OK in Rotorua, makes the smell even stronger, brings back all those childhood memories of the whole Rotton-rua experience. Checked into a dodgy motel on Fenton Street (where else), had a quick nap, then took a cab into town (in the rain) for a beer and a feed.

The next day we thought we'd do the touristy thing, so went out for a drive up to the Green and Blue lakes, called into the buried village and roared off again once we realised it cost $20 for a visit, then ended up heading out to Waiotapu thermal valley on the main Taupo Road.

If you havent been out there, do so the next time your in Rotorua. I've been to Whakarewarewa a few times so was nice to see some different (and more natural) thermal terrain. Due to the weather, one of the walks at Waiotapu was roped off but that wasnt stopping us (well, it almost stopped Kym) and we got to have a good look around.

We did get some funny looks from the German tourists who saw us climbing back over the "Danger, Keep Out" barrier on the way back to the entrance. On the way back to town we stopped in at one of the not-so-secret little side road accessable natural thermal pools and had a dip which was bloody brilliant.

There were loads of foreign back-packer types installed in the pools enjoying themselves dipping their heads under the ameobic-meningitis infested waters, didnt seem to be bothered by the warning signs detering such actions (we assumed they spoke english :-)

At one point we were sitting below a little water-fall and overheard (yes, we were eaves-dropping) this Irish chap say to his girlfriend "Jeeze, this is the craziest ting oive ever dun". Kym observed later that he obviously hasnt done a fuck of a lot in his boring lifetime :-)

8:02:31 AM