As we made our way across the North Island to Napier we happened to stop for a magnificent lunch at the Craggy Creek Vineyard and Restaurant. Located in the beautiful Hawke's Bay wine region the meal was a highlight of our travels so far. Our accomodation in Napier was in the Art Deco Masonic Hotel which was the perfect beachside location in this Art Deco town. After a couple of days (and some more wine tasting) in this unique part of New Zealand we headed for Lake Taupo via the Craters of the Moon thermal park and walk and the Huka Falls. It was then onto Rotorua via the Orakei Korako Geothermal Park & Cave, or ‘The Hidden Valley’, which is widely recognised as the best thermal area in New Zealand, one of the finest in the world. Orakei Korako is home to the Ruatapu Cave or ‘Sacred Hole’ which is a 120ft cave extending deep into the earth. One of only two geothermal caves in known existence, it features a thermal hot pool at the bottom called Waiwhakaata or ‘pool of mirrors’. It’s no wonder the BBC used Orakei Korako as a backdrop for scenes from their show, Walking With Dinosaurs!
Then it was onto Waiotapu Thermals, a spectacular showcase of New Zealand’s most colourful and unique geothermal elements sculpted by thousands of years of geothermal activity. Finally Kuirau Park in downtown Rotorua for a foot thermal. Rotorua is known as "Sulphur City" due to the hydrogen sulphide emissions, which gives the city a smell similar to "rotten eggs". But it seems that Sunday night is not the best night for catering in this town so it was a Pack N Save (supermarket) Chook and some salad for dinner!
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