Today we sat, soaked and splashed at the Waikite Thermal Springs.  The Maori name “Wai” means water and “kite” means clear and clear water is certainly what we enjoyed ourselves in all day today.  We were attracted to these pools because they empty each of the 6 pools at 8.45pm every night as well as replacing the water throughout the day.

The family pool was about 36 degrees and was gorgeous.  We played ball with the other children and their families and floated around, swam, splashed and enjoyed the views.

 

 

 

After lunch we walked the Eco trail and followed an amazing boiling river up to the Te Manaroa spring.  We had never seen anything like it before and is certainly not what we expected, it was just so foreign to us to see water in a river boiling like it was ready for pasta on the stovetop.  The calcium deposits were quite pretty and very interesting to see.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We saw how the water flows down from the river and across a series of pools and it cools from 98 degrees celcius to the temperature range for the varying thermal pools (35 – 40 degrees).

We enjoyed ice creams for afternoon tea before a final soak, splash and then drive back to Rotorua.