On new years day, we slept in a bit. We had a great time ringing in the new year with some newfound friends at the Lime Bar on Ponsonby Rd. We learned that Auckland is a “small town”. Folks at the Lime seemed pretty connected. Anyway, celebrated with some local Kiwis and some transplants to New Zealand, including Neil from Ireland and Daniela from Prague.New Years day was a wet one.

It never stopped raining from the time we packed the car and left our Auckland home until we arrived in the thermal springs area of Rotorua. Still a majestic drive as we entered the mountain ranges and drove through many of the ancient volcanic domes. We checked into our Lake Rotorua hotel and walked, in the rain, to a city centre Thai restaurant for some Pad Thai and Pad See Ew.

We ended up sleeping late, still tired from our New Years antics. We headed out of town after a quick lunch of kebobs at Ali Baba’s, a Tunisian restaurant, stomachs full and prepared for the 3 hour drive to the  Lake Waikaremoana Holiday Park. 

Then as we were driving out of town, we heard a crazy noise from the front left tire. We apparently had run over a set of headphone wires and the small plug had pierced the tire, still in it with the rest of the cord whipping around hitting the fender. A leak of course, and, all the tire shops in Rotorua closed for the week…a long holiday I suppose! The only option, change the tire…in the rain of course. So after about 30 minutes of work, unpacking the boot, retrieving the spare, repacking the boot…we were back on our way.

The 3 hour 160km drive consisted of about half the road being unpaved mountainous gravel road, and of course, in the rain. Lots of warnings for potential falling rock and livestock in the road…no major rock falls and just a few wild horses in the road from time to time. But again, a beautiful drive through the rain, with low hanging clouds, every shade of green, lots of wildflowers, roaring streams and occasional waterfalls.

Finally, the gravel roads end and we arrive at Lake Waikaremoana, an amazing lake formed around 2000 years ago by an enormous landslide. We spent the night at a cute set of cabins and camp ground on the lake, Lake Waikaremoana Holiday Park. We spent the night packing for our Great Walk where we will spend 4 days and three nights with just our backpacks and few huts along the way. A 46 km trek.  It looks like rain the first day! Nine am we will be picked up by the Big Bush Water Taxi that will take us up the lake and drop us to the trailhead to start our trek!