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| Wai-O-Tapu: (Maori translation: sacred water) near Rotorua, a land filled with geothermal activity... lined with sulphur, silica, manganese, antimony, arsenic, and iron oxide, these craters give off a variety of colors |
| Waimangu: (volcanic valley) also near Rotorua, lots of boiling lakes & streams! during this bush-walk we were told that you can boil a whole chicken just by dipping it in the water for 90 seconds! |
| Kerosene Creek: a hot stream close by, for taking a naturally hot "soak" - even during the rain!!!! it's safe, as long as you don't put your head into the water - the sign behind me warns of the presence of Meningitis bacteria in these waters! |
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| Rotorua: where i stayed my first few days in the southern hemisphere... view of Princes Gate boutique hotel from the entrance of the old Bathhouse & Gardens. (my room was on the 2nd floor - nice veranda, eh?!) Sculptures adorn corners of the entrance, typical intricate Maori wood carvings. |