My Solo Weekend in Rotorua

I am WAAAAY behind on my blog posts so I am going to attempt the narrated picture version to share about my weekend adventure in Rotorua. When I arrived Emma was quick to tell me that I would have a long weekend for the Queen's Birthday. She suggested a weekend at Rotorua - which was the perfect suggestion!! I searched high and low to find a travel partner, but as the weekend neared - fate had it that I would be traveling solo.

It was truly an amazing weekend - seeing the sights, meeting people from all over the world, and learning to navigate an unknown place completely on my own. So many moments the took my breath away. So many memories I will never forget.

I spent the Friday night with Emma's family
at their holiday home in Taupo. Emma and her
sisters agreed that riding the Luge was a must.

When I arrived at the i-Site center via bus I quickly realized
that when you travel alone - you have to make all of the
decisions. After grabbing 30 brochures - I purchased
tickets for the gondola, luge, and sky swing. And began my
navigation of the bus system.

I think that when you travel alone you quickly develop a
radar for identifying other individuals traveling alone.
While getting ready to board the gondola I found three
individuals showing symptoms of "solo traveler syndrome". 

I met Travis - a senior from University of Kentucky - and
quickly grabbed him as my partner for the afternoon activities.
It was great to have someone from "home" to talk to
about everything I was experiencing. I could say bathroom
and not be looked at funny.

We rode the gondola to the top of the hill and then had two
luge rides. I rode a luge in Colorado when I was young. The NZ
luge is an entirely new adventure. No one really explains
what to do - they check your breaks and you are sent
on your way. As I was zooming down the hill I thought "what
is there to stop me from flipping this cart?"
Absolutely nothing. :) 

When then ventured to the Sky Swing. It seats
three, but it was just Travis and I. You get
strapped in and lifted up to the top of this
tower. Travis let us go and we were free falling.

The AMAZING view from the Sky Swing. 

My first experience staying at a backpackers -
the right side of my room.

And the left side of my room.
(No, I did not move my hairbrush).

Astray Backpackers. I spent a lot of time
in the communal kitchen - eating fish and
chips, watching random American and NZ
shows, and writing postcards.

On Sunday morning I took a bus to Waitomo for a tour
of the glowworm caves. We took a walking tour through
the limestone caves and learned about the formation of
the caves - and their infamous inhabitant - the glowworms.

We were not allowed to take any pictures inside the caves
or of the glowworms. At the end of the walking tour we
got into large rowboats and took a silent tour through
the glowworm sanctuaries. It was a cross between under
the stars and under millions of fireflies.
This picture is at the edge of the cave.

The river floated out into the
beautiful New Zealand bush.

After my Waitomo adventure I jumped on a bus to
Te Puia - a Maori cultural village plus a geothermal experience.
I jumped into the 2 o'clock tour at the picture above -
across the NZ bush you see the steam rising from
the mud pools and Pohutu geyser.

Bubbling natural mud pools. Rotorua is found along
the Ring of Fire - the Earth's crust is so thin in this area
that the heat from the core is seen on the surface.

My attempt to capture the bubbling mud!

Pohutu Geyser surrounded by two smaller geysers -
before they went off.

Pohutu Geyser

Te Puia is also a Maori cultural area. There was an option
of a cultural performance; however, I decided to save this
part of my adventure for when my parents arrive. We will
be attending a traditional Maori dinner - a hangi.

A Marae

Piece of work in carving school.

The tour included a carving and weaving school.

Monday morning was the Queen's Birthday so none of the
city bus services were running. The owner of my backpackers
helped me plan a morning of free adventures in the town.
I began in Kurau Park - a natural thermal area. These signs
surrounded the edges of the park.

I walked on to Ohinemutu - the original settlement of
the Ngati Whakaue tribe. I arrived before it
formally opened so I just walked along the grounds.

War Memorial - this statue at the front
had plaques for each of the wars taught
across the world and the names of the
individuals from the Ngati Whakaue tribe
who fought and lost their lives protecting NZ.

St. Faith's Church

You cannot see in this picture; however, steam was coming up
from the cracks formed in the pavement.

I then moved on to the walking path along Lake Rotorua.
While it was a little chilly - the views were absolutely
beautiful.

The entire route lasts about five hours; however, I chose
to stick to a 2 1/2 hour hike.

I ran into Grace - a girl from China who was spending some
time traveling in NZ. Grace and I spent Sunday night writing
postcards and watching American TV shows in the
backpackers common room.

We exchanged in a small (okay possibly large) photo
shoot - all of which you will see below!

I exited the walking paths at the Government
Gardens. This land was given to the NZ
government by a Maori tribe and now serves
as beautiful walking gardens.