So...This is Actually Hell

My apologies for not posting anything for so long. Work and the holidays sucked up all of my time for a while there. When you're never home, you just don't want to sit and write blogs once you do get time off.

Anyways... I left off right before we got to Hell's Gate, northeast of Rotorua.

It was a beautiful drive through diverse scenery as we passed through the different ecosystems that the North Island has to offer. When we arrived, both of us were happy to get out of the car and stretch our legs, so the tour at Hell's Gate was quite welcomed!

Of course, Josh couldn't resist the opportunity when I wanted a shot of him in front of the entrance...

I don't know why, don't even ask...

I thought the whole park was pretty neat, but that is probably because I am a dork for geological phenomenon. We took a lot of photos of all of the different features, but they don't really do it justice. The first thing that you notice upon getting out of the car is the oh so subtle smell of sulfur that pervades the whole area surrounding Rotorua. Nearer to the geothermal vents, you feel the rise in temperature, which was nice because it cut the chill in the air.

Most of the photos looks similar to this

I probably did this a hundred times, the steam felt good ;0)

Josh likes to take pictures of flowers and trees and such. I think that is so cute.This vegetation was unexpected because you cannot see it from the entrance (where there is almost nothing growing), and the climate/ecosystem surrounding it is so different.

Some video of the things we saw at the park... These are the Spraying Pools. I like the water bubbling/boiling in what they call "the frying pan effect."

 

I wanted to visit Hell's Gate in particular, out of a handful of parks in the area, because they had a hot waterfall. I have an obsession with them, after all. =0) I was thinking that I would be able to get a lot closer than we actually could, so I was a little disappointed when we finally saw it. But it was still awesome.

They love to advertise that things are the biggest or tallest down here. This is the largest hot waterfall in the southern hemisphere...

A view of the Steaming Cliffs. Though, there is so much steam you can't actually view the cliffs ha ha.

 

Koro Koro (The Hot Lakes). Footpath bridge in the background.

 Anyone that knows the Garners, knows that we don't exactly follow rules. There were signs everywhere telling you not to go off the path or touch the water/go near the features... 

My name may have changed, but you can tell where I came from he he. The water was only lukewarm.

I couldn't resist seeing what the mud felt like in the foot pool before we left. The water was nice and warm, and the mud felt great. :)

We didn't realize it at the time, but there was a distinctive odor that clung to us just from being here. It was reminiscent of sulfur, but thankfully not as noxious. The owners of the B&B where we checked in afterwards were very happy that we had not gotten any treatments at the spa here because they always have to throw out any sheets and towels people use afterwards, the smell is that persistent.

The next activity on our agenda had us driving to Waitomo Caves to check into the Waitomo Caves Guest Lodge Bed & Breakfast. We got there fairly late, hungry, and pretty much ready to hit the hay. The wonderful and very knowledgeable owners checked us in, and sent us off with suggestions to eat at the local brew pub (even warning us to ignore the surly cook/waitress), and told us that we absolutely had to borrow some of their torches (flashlights) and take a walk on the walking trail that loops by the caves before we retired for the night so that we could take in a free "show" of the famous glow worms because that was the only night we would be there. I will tell you more about rest of the night, and the adventures of day 3 in the next post. Hopefully it won't take me quite so long to write it!