What an absolutely fantabulous weekend! Only in New Zealand. Friday night we drove four hours north to Rotorua, nicknamed Rotovegas because of all the attractions there. The main purpose of our trip was to get me to the Tikitapu Adventure Run (18 km). "Adventure Run" was the right name: the course took us on mountain-bike trails and featured plenty of trail-less running, which involved bushwhacking and tree-dodging up and down hills in the redwood and tree fern forest. There was plenty of slipping and sliding and grabbing onto the ropes provided in the steep sections. Running around Green Lake was such a visual treat, and finishing on the beach beat all! Check out this dorkalicious picture of me as I near the finish line.
Mac and I went to three hot springs, two free ones and one private hot springs called Waikite Valley Thermal Pool that allows you to camp there (which is awesome because then you can get up and use the pools at 6am before anyone else!) We went on a couple hikes, checked out the bubbling Mud Pool near Wai-o-Tapu, and Mac went fly-fishing at a few lakes and streams that were known for trout, with mixed success. We left Rotorua with plenty of ideas for return trips...one weekend isn't nearly enough!