Steaming holes, hot springs and a rainy week WWOOFing

After our birthdays we headed southwards to the tourist capital of NZL Rotorua (enjoying the thermal activity in the area) and afterwards got stuck in Taupo because of a bad weather period. Meanwhile we challenged ourselves to earn the 500$ necessary for the Whanganui River Journey with busking.

Pretty cool story (without picture)! When we were busking in Tauranga a lady stopped with her full shopping trolley, listened for a while and started talking to us about our travels. After two more songs she gave us some of her groceries (toast, lemonade, eggs, cookies and crackers). AMAZING! Otherwise we would have had to buy new groceries that day.

After busking we arrived in Rotorua in the evening:

 Probably the only NZL building that will make it into our blog - government palace

Beautiful evening atmosphere at the lake Rotorua with a lot of bubbling and steaming mud pools

Lina at the lake

That night we camped in the front yard of a really nice and funny Maori family. Packing the tent next morning.

The Kerosine Creek - the water was about 40 C. It was pretty exciting to jump down the water fall since the current was so strong.

 Funny things happen in Rotorua - Thomas' head is even steaming

In another hot pool where a hot and a cold stream met. So you could always choose your temperature.

Since we wanted to camp there that night, we cleaned up the area. Look at our harvest ;) Since some teenagers came to party that night we had to move on and camp somewhere else.

 Amazing thermal activity (you pay 30$/person to get closer than this - we didn't)

The craters of the moon

 A pretty hot day. Would have been perfect for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing - you can see the snowy mountains of the Tongariro National Park in the very back (still on our bucket list).

While busking in Taupo, a nice lady (Linley) told us she had a feeling that we were in need - so she invited us to her place for two days and took us to a really cool church on Sunday. Isn't God amazing?

 

 This is her son Jason we had a lot of fun with. He even gave us 20$ for our journey. Thanks again!

Her husband Richard showed us around - this is the Huka Falls: the only exit for the water coming out of the huge lake Taupo. About 40 cubicMETERS per SECOND

 You can see the bottom of the 8m deep river - wouldn't happen in Germany

A little reminder of home ;) Guess why! 

In that place we've been busking 3 times now. As we knew that bad weather was coming up, we set out a sign saying: We work 4 you for accomodation. After ten minutes Nikki and her little daughter Bella walked up to us to take us as her first WWOOFers.

Bella (left) and Zoe (right) - the two kids of Nikki and Rich

Funny is, that Bella totally reminds Lina of her younger sister Niki when she was little.

We weeded the garden, cleaned windows and painted. 

One afternoon we spent relaxing: First doing some cross word puzzles and then manipulating the front cover

Lake Taupo - the biggest lake in the southern hemisphere

A lot of people had been asking if we could cook a German dish - as we always only made the pear gorgonzola quiche. So we tried the first Apfelstrudel in our lives which turned out to be really yum.

 Jam session with the kids =)

 

The only sunny day was our working day: During the morning we worked for Nikki's parents and busked in the afternoon. We earned 180$ in only 6 hrs =)          - challenge completed

 

 Their beautiful garden - all eager German gardeners just don't look at this picture.