Tarawera Trail

On Saturday a group of my gal-pals and I set off to do the new-ish Tarawera Trail. It was a surprisingly beautiful warm day and we were walking along in t-shirts enjoying our gal-chatter under a sunny blue sky. This trail is a stunner. Really truly beautiful. There's something about Lake Tarawera all vast and tree-lined with that majestic mountain looming in the distance that makes it feel so... significant.

This image shows the point we got to before turning back. Down there is Hot Water Beach. Next time I'm going to head off a bit earlier and do the whole distance with a nice warm soak as the reward before turning back and heading home. There are so many awesome little semi-secret natural hotpools around Rotorua.

After much wailing and gnashing of teeth between the various parties involved, this 15km 'stage one' leg of the journey was completed in December. Eventually the plans are that it will take you the 42km all the way around Lake Tarawera joining ranks with some of the other iconic multi-day walks in NZ. Joy.

There are lovely little beaches along the way to stop and enjoy...

And enjoy some more!  Yeow!!

Then later on that night to cap off a fabulous day we got together for a potluck curry dinner. Now that's my kind of Saturday!