Keresone Creek with Sophia

The largest mudpool near Waiotapu.  Great for Sophia to hear the boiling mud, and see the steam.

The thermal stream at Kerosene creek, is a great place to spend a cold afternoon.

The urchins enjoy standing under the waterfall, and being massaged by the warm water.

Sophia and Oscar enjoying the warm waters of the waterfall

Tighe loved being in the bubbles created by the waterfall, he would float away on the current.

Looking down the stream, the steam kept rising, and it was deliciously warm.

Further up the stream, towards the carpark, is a mini cascade.  This is my favourite part of Kerosene Creek.

Sophia at Kerosene Creek.

Kuirau Park with Sophia

Sophia is visiting from Germany, so we got to play tourist, and showed her around the free thermal park of Kuirau Park.

Sophia enjoying the footpools

Lots of steam and sulphur and mud pools.

I always imagine this is what New Zealand looked like at the time of the Dinosaurs.  Very primitive.

I just love the colour and shapes of the algae

Lunch Time, Northern Efate

Emao Island

The urchins were getting hungry, it was about 1ish, so Beachcomber was our next stop, near Quoin Hill, and the disused American WW2 airstrip.

These are remnants of the USA that they built out of coral and dirt, so the pilots could see the USA from the air.

There were mounds of coral. My guess is that the debris from Cyclone Pam was put into these mounds, so that the grass could be used for the cattle and goats.

There are HOT springs at Beachcomber; the roof is still very damaged.  Hot chips for the urchins, toasted sandwich for me, steak sandwich for him.  We were the only customers.  The EFTPOS didn’t work, as the generator was unreliable.  

 Anneke  declared the indoor hot pool, TOO hot, but swam in the outdoor pool.  

Tighe and Quinn explored the area, and the debris from Pam is still evident in the area.  Twisted corrugated iron, pushed over trees, and wreaked homes are all visible.  Some of the people are living in tents.

Debris from Cyclone Pam

Quoin Hill in background

Tighe, Quinn and I picked up shells on the coral beach.  Lots of variety, and sizes.  Tighe found some huge shells.  (There were no shells at Hideaway Island, the hermit crabs use them).

From the shore, Tighe spotted a TitanTrigger fish (75cm) eating the coral.  We watched him for a while.

Titan Triggerfish (source www.fishesofaustralia.net.au)

Getting into hot water...again!

 

 The tide was right, and the weather perfect.  Kawhia, here we come again.

Kawhia harbour

Fossil hunting in the harbour with Jack while we waited for low tide.

 A picnic lunch at the park, the urchins tried out the skate park.

Tighe trying new skills

Quinn landing it!

Off to the sandhills, and some digging in the sand for some hot water.  The black sand made hot walking!

Tighe making the most of gravity

 The beach was as crowded as only a NZ beach can be...

 The advantage of the hot pools, the urchins can warm up, and then go into the ocean again.

 Fascinating sand sculptures are formed by the bathers, and the iron sand.

 Oscar and Carenza enjoyed sculpting around the edge of the hot pool.

 Quinn had to use his skimboard.

Lovely and relaxing

Quinn

Mt Karioi in backgronud

Jack, Anneke and Tighe made the most of the ocean on a hot day

 Finally the tide turned, and filled the hot pools with cold water.

 The urchins still didn't want to go home, it's still warm.

Tighe's young hands