Napier – Rotorua. Day 8

Sunday 30^th March 2025

Day 8  Napier – Rotorua

We made an earlier start today and made our way towards Rotorua with a breakfast stopover at Lake Tapou.  With full bellies we made our way to Rotorua and the Redwoods Tree Walk.  It’s a series of aerial swing bridges and platforms between the large redwood trees. A great walk during the day with more to come in the evening.  After checking into our B&B I left Geoff to work on his presentation for Tuesday and I drove 15 minutes out of town to Hells Gate and the mud pools and hot springs spa.  I was allocated 20 minutes only in the mud pools, rubbing the mud all over except for anywhere above the eyes. Relaxing on the side of the mud pool allowed the mud to dry before scrubbing it off, showering and reclining in the hot waters of the spa pools.  I certainly felt very tired afterwards however no time for a rest as we headed down the main thoroughfare to Eat Street and dined at Atticus Finch.  As seems to be the usual in NZ, it’s share plates ordered all at the same time and served as they are ready. We dined on Leek and Smoked Salmon fish cakes with various accompaniments and a chicken dish that included Karaage chicken skewers and a chicken curry with rice.  Both were enjoyable.

We spent some time reading in the lounge room at the B&B before driving 10 minutes out of town for the nighttime walk in the treetops.  It was recommended that we arrive later so as to miss the crowds.  We commenced our climb up at about 9:30pm and we really did have the place much to ourselves.  It was so peaceful and very pretty.