Rotorua

Tourist Mecca. Geysers. Lakes. In the morning we went to a forest that is set up with bike trails. Easy ones and technical ones. We were outfitted with bikes and off we went. Early on, the group separated into beginners and advanced. Too many opted for the advanced and fell off their bikes. They should have known that with this adrenaline junky leader they should be cautious. One of the accidents resulted in broken ribs. That put a cramp in the rest of the trip for him. His wife had opted to sit it out by reading in the bus. She had vowed to never bike again after a serious accident that required reconstruction of her face. Our easy bike ride wasn't. Called level 2 on signs. Mr. Adonis saw me at one point asked if I was getting any air. Oh sure. It was a pretty forest with redwoods and the usual tree ferns.  My seat wasn't adjusted high enough. 2 hours of that was quite enough. After picnicking at the lake, everyone but us wanted to go zorbing. This is an expensive short thrill ride down a grassy slope in big plastic balls. Actually most of them just watched. We went over to the museum which was fascinating. Used to be a thermal spa. One movie gave me a thrill when the bench I was sitting on shook violently during a volcano scene. Caught by surprise. 

Lake Rotorua from motel. 

View from parapet at the museum. White roof is conference center but thermal part of Lake Rotorua.