We spent a weekend here, the first day was spent roaming around downtown and the afternoon in Wai-o-tapu, the Thermal Park. Then early on the 2nd day we venture on the road to Wai-tomo for the famous Glow Worm Caves. The weather was good and we maximized our stay to the fullest.
the lobby of the I-Site or visitor center in Rotorua
The I-Site (information center) in Rotorua is a lovely Maori-inspired design,
with lots of materials and helpful staff. We arrived early, so we ate our packed food at the park behind the building.
enhanced close-up of the tree's bark
These old buildings are late 19th century built and still useful for the government functions in the park. One is a well serviced cafe, loans are well maintained and flowers abound.
Rotorua Museum of Art and History
A ticket is necessary to enter the museum. We intended to get in, but we arrived its perimeter when it is about to close. We failed to see the inside, but we marvel in the beauty of the structural design.
When almost everyone has already left the premises, it suddenly rained that stopped us from roaming around. We sat on the covered porch and watched the birds. There were few families also caught by the rain and a child fed and played with the birds. We left after a few good 30 min waiting for the rain to stop.
flowers in an area in the park
I am so fascinated with the lovely colors of the leaves of this Phormium.
no such thing like this at home
colorful displays of flowers on the paths in the garden
a mini pond is also lovely
On the way out at the other side of the gardens, we saw this remnant of the Old Baths, used long ago as spa. The waters are siphoned to the inside for better water temperature controls. Now it is left as as, as a vent probably of the heating magma below their soil. This volcanic spring preempts what we will be seeing this afternoon at the formal Thermal Park.
We went home already dark, cooked our own food at the kitchen of the Backpack Hostel and slept the night like children. Oh we were so happy!
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