Day 78 – White water and a hot tub

The plan for the morning was to hire a kayak and head out onto the lake to see the modern Maori carvings in the cliffs. a couple of things scuppered our plans; first the distance from the only hire place, 3 hours each way; second the northerly wind that would have double that time estimate. So we changed our plans and played a round of mini golf – Tom won, damn that uphill hole! By the way, I have a free ticket for the Taupo course, if anyone wants it, as I holed the 18th in one.

Leaving Taupo we headed towards Rotorua along the thermal highway. The area around Taupo and Rotorua is highly volcanic and along the thermal highway the map highlights a number of hot spas, thermal vents and  boiling pools. We stopped off at one place highly signposted from the highway and were surprised when the guy in the cafe asked us for $13 to take a short trek. We hesitated and in the end he said he’d settle for a donation. The path we took led us through some scrub land and past a few small thermal vents, nothing special. On leaving we told the guy it wasn’t worth it and left.

We reached Rotorua in the early afternoon and at the YHA asked about kayaking options. There were a few options but a little pricey so the receptionist recommended a white water rafting option and for a couple of extra bucks a trip to a hot spa. The timing seemed perfect, being a pickup in ten minutes, so we signed up. Minutes later an old guy picked us up in a Landrover towing a raft and took us to the Kaituna River.

Wetsuited and booted out guide, Tim, took us through a few safety tips before leading us down to the river. Setting off it soon became clear that this wasn’t going to be as gentle a ride as the Nantahala River in the Smokey Mountains. Within minutes we were heading down some decent size rapids and Tim was having a great time soaking us. Then came the big ones a three meter waterfall followed by a 7 meter grade 5 fall. For both we tucked in low and held on tight. The first one went well as did the second, even though we went vertically into the torrent. Looking back at the water gushing over the falls and churning in the pool below I was gob smacked that we’d made it over without falling out.

I think that because we were the last trip if the day Tim and the guys following us in kayaks wanted to let off some steam. We got to jump in the river and float down. I rode rodeo style on the front of the raft then went into water and hitched a lift on one of the kayaks, both of these were done whilst going over rapids! We had so much fun I didn’t want it to end. The last bit of hi-jinx Tim put us through was to guide the raft back onto a rapid and surf the falling water, occasionally getting the front to dip down and cover us in water.

Heading back into town we got dropped off at the Philippine Hot Spas where we got to relax range of pools. Some were supposed to be good for the skin and others good for the muscles. Some were warm and others were hotter than was comfortable. Felt pretty relaxed and somewhat light headed after leaving.

After picking up some supplies I challenged Tom to a mini golf rematch at a course I spotted on the outskirts of town. This course was smaller and slower than this mornings, providing a closer game. Tom won the day again by a shot – damn that sand coloured turf.

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