Rotorua event

Mount Tarawera and Lake Rotorua from Mount Ngongotaha

It was a small turnout for the Bay of Plenty Sun Club's walk to the summit of Mount Ngongotaha in Rotorua. Six of the group climbed to the summit while two others did the shorter and less strenuous hour long Nature Walk.




After the walk, four of the group stayed on in Rotorua and spent the afternoon at the top of the gondola. The boys did what boys do and went on the luge for the first time, while the girls took the photos.














Once at the bottom, the boys were brought back to the top on the chairlift.
After afternoon tea st the Summit tearooms, we had Happy Hour by the lake and then went for a Chinese smorgasbord.








One couple spent the night at Holden's Bay Motor Camp while the other stayed at the DOC camp on the shores of Lake Okareka and went for a walk around the shore of Lake Okareka the next morning. This was an easy walk and there was plenty of bird life along the way. This well maintained boardwalk walk around this picturesque lake was well worth doing.
Maybe next year some more members will come along to a weekend in Rotorua. Then we can do the Redwoods walks or Lake Okareka again.

Weekend in Rotorua - Part 3 Around the lakes

After warming up in the hot pools, eight of the group arrived at a campsite by Lake Rerewhakaaitu for the night. Happy hour was convened beside the picture perfect lake as the sun went down.

The next day, we toured around Lake Rerewhakaaitu, stopping off at the DOC camps on the shores of the lake. At the Ashpit Road camp, we searched for a ‘geocache’. Sadly we didn’t find it so continued on with the idea of having lunch, followed by a walk at ‘The Redwoods’. However there was a national cycling and kayaking event on there with the subsequent large number of vehicles – so to plan B (conceived as we sat in the traffic jam)! The lunch stop would now be Blue Lake.

 

After lunch, we decided to walk around the lake – a walk of 1½ hours, and then headed to our overnight camp on the shores of Lake Okareka. Here we watched the sun go down and the moon come up, making good use of the DOC shelter on the shores of the lake for happy hour.

Rainbow Mountain outing

The BOP Sun Club is going to Rotorua this Saturday for a walk up Rainbow Mountain (or the shorter less strenuous Crater Lake). Meet at the Rainbow Mountain carpark (on SH5 just past the SH38 turnoff to Murupara) about 11am Saturday for an early lunch before doing the walks.

We will stay at one of the DOC camps in Brett Road, Lake Rerewhakaaitu (the larger one) on Saturday night ($6pp), go for a hot swim at Kerosene Creek (bring your togs just in case) and maybe if the weather is suitable go for a walk at The Redwoods or Lake Okareka on Sunday. If the weather is unsuitable for walking, we may stay at Waikite where there are hot pools (togs needed for the main pool - if staying, unlimited use of the main pools is included in the overnight charge, although they do have private pools). http://www.hotpools.co.nz/

If the weather is really bad, we will still be going but will look at more indoor events in Rotorua, so the plans will be dependent on the weather. If you can't find us but would like to join in, phone me on the BOP Sun Club phone on 027 440 5157.