Glowing worms in Waitomo & smelly place called Rotorua

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Hey guys!

I’ve read somewhere, that New Zealand has the same stuff as Australia, but on a smaller area. And I have to admit, it’s true! I have no idea how’s that possible, but from a huge city full of skyscrapers, we got to the ocean and beautiful sand beaches, followed by tropical jungles (it was my first time to see a liana!) and yesterday we got to a region full of hot springs and geysers, called Rotorua. Well and tomorrow we are planning on hiking one of the biggest volcanos in Zealand in the Tongariro National Park. We have driven only about 600 km, so everything is really close.

Early in the morning we took a tour to Waitomo Caves, which absolutely took our breaths away. In this cave there are literally glowing worms! 
Concerning the Rotorua national park, we checked out mainly the biggest hot springs. The biggest one is very similar to Grand Prismatic in Yellowstone NP. We also saw a neon green lake, where I suspected the local rangers that they poured some colour in it. I swear to god, I didn’t edit the photos at all, the green colour is real! And in the afternoon, we headed to Huka Falls. 

Through the whole national park flows a hot river that has about 40°C, so we found ourselves a spot and jumped right into it. The water was actually too hot, so we couldn’t stay too long in it, but it was def worth the experience! And at the end of the day, we went to see a kiwi, so anyone couldn’t say that we were on New Zealand and didn’t see a kiwi. We didn’t know that they are nocturnal birds, so the only picture I have is a fuzzy one, but the kiwi is there! (The guide told me off for taking pictures, because I didn’t see all those signs!). It’s no fun to spot a kiwi, so I’m glad that I have at least that fuzzy photo of it.

Well and I’m going to bed because there is a 20 km hike tomorrow we have to fight. 
Love,
E.

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