A Kiwi Holiday

Hey everybody. Once again there has been a long gap between posts - but this time we have pictures to make up for it. We left you hanging in Rotorua, the evening before our first bike-free day since Auckland. We didn't know what to do with ourselves when we woke up! But, after considering a few very expensive and touristy activity options, we ended up taking it easy (and cheap). We explored Kuirau Park, a collection of smelly, steamy, bubbly mud pools:

We spent the afternoon walking through the peaceful Redwood forest, before heading to Pak'n'Save, our favorite grocery store, to buy ingredients for a delicious dinner of pineapple burgers.

And then, Inauguration Day!

We stopped for a lengthy rest to read about Obama and celebrate our country's good fortune. After tearing out our favorite articles, including one about the new Obama Safari tours being offered in Kenya, we headed on to Golden Springs and set up our tent for the night:

A cold splash in the campsite swimming pool followed by a hot soak in the thermal mineral pool was refreshing and reinvigorating - as was a cone of Tip Top banana-berry ice cream that night.

The next day we rode on to Taupo and stayed at the Action Downunder YHA hostel, where we were lucky to get two of the last few beds in the dorm rooms. Accommodation was scarce because of the international A1GP car race being held on the outskirts of Taupo. We enjoyed ourselves despite the crowds, however, and even met a new friend. We toured the local museum with Sarah from Germany the next morning:

After the museum we were excited to meet up with the Muller family. Kaylum is an old exchange student friend of Torrey's. His family has been gracious enough to invite us along on their holiday. We headed to their bach on the southwest side of Lake Taupo, where we spent the next few days kayaking, swimming, sailing, and just relaxing at home and on the beach.

But it wasn't all rest and relaxation! Julie Muller accompanied us on the Tongariro Crossing, one of New Zealand's seven Great Walks. It was a 20-kilometer tramp up the side of a mountain, across a moon-like crater, along the edge of a bright red Mars crater, and down again past sulphur springs and through thick rainforest. We were exhausted, but triumphant, when we reached the end!

And today we are back at the Muller home in Kaponga. Julie and Nicole drove straight home, trailing kayaks and bikes, but Andrew, Kaylum, and we two made a six-hour detour to do a jetboat tour down the Whanganui River. Jetboating is like a rollercoaster on water. Really, really fun. The jetboat took us to the Bridge to Nowhere, where we ate lunch and had a cup of tea, before boating back downriver. We did three 360s on the way back, and definitely got our adrenaline rush for the day!

Now we are safe and sound and very grateful to the Mullers for everything they are doing for us. This is a true Kiwi holiday.