@carolski I live in #Rotorua, #NewZealand, and today I cycled into town and back to teach a couple of Tai Chi classes. It's normally 5 km each way, but today I took the scenic route and rode about 50 km all up, through forests, past lakes, and on some wonderful singletrack. Much nicer than riding on suburban streets!

Must be the winter weather. Finished my lunch, and still feel like I could eat a creamy chicken and mushroom pie, as well as a fresh cream donut, with a hot chocolate. Anyone else got the winter nibbles?
#Aotearoa #newzealand #food #pie #winter #travel #Rotorua

Didn't expect to see Daffodils at the park 4 days after Winter solstice.

#flower #daffodil #winter #Aotearoa #Rotorua #NewZealand

At about 5pm tonight, the outside lighting was weird. I felt like someone had turned the lights on, but it was the sun trying to get through the rain. Perhaps I was in the middle of a rainbow.
#winter #rainbow #Aotearoa #Rotorua #NewZealand #light

Another day, another #BikeTooter. This time I went for distance rather than elevation gain...riding south from #Rotorua to Reporoa, then on some little-used gravel roads back to Waikite Valley and home again. 123 km in total, and I still climbed 1,600 metres. Seven and a half hours in total. Not a bad day's training for the Mongolia Bike Challenge...

Last night when I went for a walk, my legs got cold, even though I was wearing my thermals.
Tonight I wore my ski pants. Did I look silly? Probably. Was I nice warm and toasty? Yes!!!!
I will wear them on my walks for the rest of winter.

#Rotorua #walk #trail #Aotearoa #New Zealand #ski #winter

Another great mid-winter #BikeTooter today, chasing hills in #Whakarewarewa Forest south of #Rotorua. I was up at 5, knocked off my day's work as quickly as possible, and starting riding just before 10. Still ran out of daylight at the other end, finishing just after 6 pm. It was freezing on the last section back into town, but I managed to ride 89 kilometres and climbed 2,300 metres. A great training ride for the #MongoliaBikeChallenge which is now only 8 weeks away.

I wear my N95 mask when I am in town. Unfortunately, it doesn't stop the Rotorua smell. Ugggh!
Town smelled awful this afternoon.

#Rotorua #travel #Aotearoa #NewZealand

I like to wander in the Whakarewarewa forest in Rotorua. Currently there is a "lake" that covers the MTB track and the walking trail. The refections of the trees caught my eye.

#Rotorua #nature #walk #trail #MTB #forest #lake #Aotearoa #NewZealand #travel

Urchin is on their way to Europe, and planned to stop over to see us on their way to Auckland. Weather bad here.
Plane circled several times, and then went back home. Urchin will need to fly direct to Auckland tomorrow. Sad we didn't get to see them before they left NZ.

#travel #adventure #flight #Rotorua #NewZealand

Took the opportunity to explore the new walking trail that opened on the weekend. Unexpected views of the rolling hills and Lake Rotorua.
The trail was steep and slippery in places. I will do it again.

#Rotorua #trave #NewZealand #Aotearoa #walk #explore

#ParadiseSprings, #Rotorua, #NewZealand

Visited a kiwi hatchery nearby and enjoyed a nature walk to these falls.

///boomed.tottered.sneakily [what3words]

#Photography #Picture #OAA #AYearForArt #MastoArt
#Landscape #LandscapePhotography #NaturePhotography #Nature #TravelPhotography #Travel #WellTravelled #OATtravel #OverseasAdventureTravel #Sony #SonyAlpha #Mirrorless #A6000 #18200mm #WaterfallWednesday #Waterfall #Wednesday #rurex

Morena #rotorua #nznog day2

When you can see the wairua of a place in the air #rotorua #nznog

In #rotorua for #nznog 2023

As we're talking about building in the wrong places, this 16ha site in Rotorua was rejected as a 14-person cemetery in 2004 because it's lined with "sewerage sludge".

A council Hazard Record on the site records "sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plant deposited on the land". It's also low-lying and prone to flooding.

In 2018 the developer called it an "almost 200 home project" but now it's "a planned 350-home development".

WTF?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/property/105471367/site-of-proposed-rotorua-housing-development-rejected-for-cemetery

#Rotorua #Flooding

#CycloneGabrielle has mostly moved on but there's still more rain on the way for several areas and disruption is ongoing & has a knock-on effect. It's not an instant fix.

MetService have just issued a severe thunderstorm watch for:

#BayofPlenty #Rotorua #Taupo #Gisborne #HawkesBay

From 3pm - 10pm today (Thursday)

Rain warnings for #Wellington parts of #Canterbury and parts of #Marlborough:

https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home

I went to the QE Health garage sale this afternoon and nabbed a couple of things. Bargain purchase was a full length high quality mirror with native timber framing for $5! I took a few photos with my proper camera but here's a quick one of one of the rooms. #Rotorua

February Fun - Day 10

Happy Friday everyone!What are your weekend plans?Maybe a visit to your local spa?A hot bath at home?Let this photo inspire you - no jumping into this steaming hot geothermal pool,though 😆 I discovered it during my travels in New Zealand: Wai-o-tapu,a thermal wonderland near Rotorua on the North Island.A bit stinky lol but well worth a visit.

https://kathrin-poersch.pixels.com/featured/steaming-hot-geothermal-pool-kathrin-poersch.html

#FebruaryFun #AYearForArt #rotorua #NewZealand #TravelPhotography #photography #geothermal #FediGiftShop

#MoodPhoto from 2009, #Rotorua #NewZealand