Rotorua Part 1

After a 5 hour bus journey I arrived at Rotorua bus station with Josh waiting for me. The first thing we did was go and get a beer and have a bit of a catch up - this was only the second time I had seen him in over 5 years!
Josh and Ingrid had rented a house for the week with another couple as they were in ton for the MTB National Championships in which Ingrid had entered. On the way to the house Josh warned me that the house belonged to a retired couple who normally live in it, but had rented the house out as they have a motorhome in which they can use for such situations, however they didn't seem to understand that with a motorhome you can go anywhere in it and they chose to park it about 30m from the house! They also kept coming in the back door and using the downstairs as they pleased. The lady is an artist and her art is displayed prominently throughout the house (none of which were hung straight!), and on entering the house you are greeted with a large 3D water feature art insulation, including 2 stuffed birds!

Very much an acquired taste

We later found some more artwork in the garage with a price tag of $3500! She also painted a bike inspired price while we were there and tried to sell it to us, which we politely declined!

Lake Rotorua and the town are located on top of a volcano, which last erupted about 240,000 years ago and the town is known as 'sulphur city' due to its abundance of geothermal activity - there are lots of hot springs, mud pools and geysers in the area which release a lot of sulfur.

A hot spring located near the lake

After a good nights sleep we drove to the centre of town to try out my new bike, Ingrid is sponsored by the distributor of Cube bikes and was able to get me a deal on it.

We rode from the centre of town through an area with a lot of geothermal activity - lots of steam vents and hot springs- to Whakarewarewa Forest. This forest (I'm not typing that out again) is home to some of the best mountain biking in New Zealand and here the National Championships had been held at the weekend. As it was my first time mountain biking Josh and Ingrid were going to take me down some grade 2 trails, but took me down some grade 3 trails on the way to the grade 2 trails and before I knew it I was careering down a grade 3 trail, following Joshs path and speed, I nearly lost control of my bike but managed to stay on. Josh looked back at me and said he had never seen me look so scared, and then said that I shouldn't go down as fast as him (which he could have told me before!). After that we got to the grade 2 trails and they were a lot of fun, but not really challenging. I went out a couple of times after that and in addition to exploring the grade 2 trails i had a go at a few of the grade 3 trails and am happy to report that I managed to go down almost everything without falling off. 

Only a short one this time ( this is the second time I have written this, the first time it didn't save properly and I lost it ), but there is plenty more to come (including bigger and better volcano's, thermal wonderland and a secret cave under a waterfall.....)

Bonus photos