Rotorua, NZ Day trip (Wai-O-Tapu Hot Springs)

Wai-O-Tapu is a natural geothermal wonderland in Rotorua, New Zealand. The Maori's named this area Holy Water. On a sunny day, I suspect it is one of the most magical places on earth. Click the link to see pictures from those perfect days. The day we went it was overcast and drizzling, though not raining. The upside was there were very few tourist there to detract from our peace.

Don and I walked the entire circuit. Towards the farthest out point I was tired of walking in the cold drizzle and nearly skipped a spur. I was rewarded with seeing this giant wooden sculpture of a lizard at one of the rare points when there were people around who could take a picture of the two of us in our raincoats. Made us think of Glinda our bearded dragon at home.

The "must see" part Wai-O-Tapu is the Champagne Pool, a vibrantly colorful hot spring. The pictures I have seen of it are stunning. Jaw dropping. This is what we saw that day:

I preferred Artist's Palette as the colors seemed to dance and change in front of us. It was magical.

The trails were very well maintained. They were often wooden boardwalks covered in a plastic (similar to the loops that go around a six pack of soda) that allowed shoes to grip on it and walk without sliding. As it was a rainy pre-cruise ship day, we saw someone using power tools and short cuts to repair parts of the path. He seemed to pop up out of nowhere with freshly cut slabs, always with a smile.

Here are some more pictures from the trails:

The map at the entrance.
I'm using a paper map to help put this together.

Mahanga Rua?

Te Rua Uenuku?

Te Rua Whaitiri?

Sinister Terraces?

Te Waiariki o Aporo?

In front of Artist's Palette
Standing in front of it, I could see why people paint

Te Waiariki o Mahuika?

Thankful for the loaner umbrella

Sinister Terrace

We pretty much had the place to ourselves

Roto Karikitea

I should have taken a picture of Don with his green 
day-glo raincoat in front of Roto Karikitea