Day 7 (12-Oct-2012) Rotorua - Coromandel

We awoke 06:00hrs in pools of nervous sweat, for at 09:15hrs we were to embark on a white water rafting trip down the Kaituna river, with the highlight being a drop over a 7m waterfall! In order to keep minds occupied, we first embarked on a leisurely drive around Rotorua, stopping off to visit yet more mud pools and view the many birds that have taken up residence along the shores of Lake Rotarua. The highlight was a chance encounter with a whole family of trumpet swans, comprising mother and SIX cygnets. The mother clearly looked exhausted, though her Herculean efforts had enabled all six fledglings to grow to a very healthy size. We initially intended to feed mother + offspring just one piece of bread, but they made it clear this was wholly insufficient, and it was simply impossible to ignore their cute pleas. We thus ended up sacrificing half a loaf!

We then drove to Okere Falls to meet the staff from Kaituna Cascades that were going to run us down the rapids. From start to finish the entire adventure was both exciting and action packed; a real adrenalin rush, made more enjoyable by the fact that we were the only two passengers in the dinghy! It was very well organised, and the helmsman and support crew were clearly very experienced, helping to allay any fears of immanent doom. The course itself passed through a very narrow gorge, covered in dense vegetation on both sides that arched across to block out most sunlight. The shafts of sunlight that did manage to penetrate the canopy seemed to transform the landscape into a very eerie place. However, we had little time to dwell on this observation, given our total focus on trying to stay inside the dingy.
 

Alas, Astrid was not up to the task, and so suddenly found herself paddling air rather than water going over the 7m water fall. Seeing her being launched out of the dingy faster than a Minuteman missile was truly hilarious – as evidenced by the many photos of Yours Sincerely doubled over in laughter waiting for her to climb back on board at the bottom of the falls. Much to her chagrin it should be said. Clearly, nothing could happen to top this incident, and so the rest of the day, while very enjoyable, was indeed an anticlimax. Of course, I mercilessly exploited every opportune moment during the subsequent 297km drive to Coromandel to embellish Astrid’s ‘sterling achievement’ to anyone who would listenJ.
 

After returning to the car we then headed off to Devils Gate, our last tour of a geothermal park. While somewhat ‘overloaded’ with boiling caldrons, mud pools, geysers and fumaroles, this park contained a number of unique attractions that made the visit entirely worthwhile. Firstly, it is the most active thermal park in New Zealand. Secondly, it is home to the only hydrothermal waterfall (Kakahi Falls) in the southern hemisphere and the only mud volcano in New Zealand. It is also home to the hottest water pools in New Zealand, with the surface temperature a ‘warm’ 122C, rising to 145C just 1m below the surface.
 

We then programmed Emillie to direct us to Coromandel, via Hahei. At Hahei, we walked to the famous Cathedral Cove, so named for the fact that it is only accessible by a cathedral like ‘doorway’ in the face of a cliff jutting out to sea. The very tortuous drive to Hahei, the subsequent walk to the cove, and the tour of the cove itself, all under clear blue skies, was very enjoyable. Very evidently, this part of New Zealand has breathtaking scenery.
 

Once in Coromandel, we checked into our cosy villa situated in a caravan park and then marched off for our first restaurant meal since arriving in New Zealand. It was VERY delicious.