We had a really fun day today. It started with a six mile round trip hike through the Waimangu Volcanic Valley. In short, it is where a huge volcanic eruption occurred in the late 1800’s that essentially wiped out a six mile long area. All life/plants were completely wiped out. Today, it is lush terrain fully grown over by trees and ferns and marked by hot springs, several small lakes that are thermal fed and a huge lake at the end of the valley that the volcano created. The geology was fascinating and the hike was delightful.

Something like six miles through an area that was destroyed by volcanic activity 100 years ago. Today, it is a lush landscape completely with steam vents and hot springs

A steam vent over the sulphur spring

Steaming hot spring fed lake

The lake in the distance was our destination and the halfway point of the hike

After that, we still had time to go to Skyline Adventures to do the downhill luge run. Basically, you take a full size gondola up a hill, just like skiing in the Sierra’s. At the top you get in a very small three wheel cart and “bomb” down a luge run, complete with banked turns. How we kept from flying off the hill I’ll never know. We each did three runs, including the “Advanced” run. I dared Ann to keep up with me and you know what? She did!

Tomorrow-a Polynesian massage in the morning that Ann is giving me(us) for my birthday and then further south to Lake Taupo for a couple days.