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<\/a><\/p>\nOur hotel staff told us the restaurant with the best wine list was Atticus Finch, so of course that’s where we went. This is a tapas place, which we have come to love from our time in Spain.\u00a0 I must say ALL of the food was excellent, particularly the lamb dish.\u00a0 The service was also excellent, Jackie in particular!\u00a0 If you go here make sure you ask for her!<\/p>\n
The wine was ok….we are not big fans of young Pinot Noir with screwcaps.\u00a0 Regardless, I would highly recommend Atticus Finch if you find yourself in Rotorua.<\/p>\n
The place has a great open air feel, and the other restaurants also looked quite good.\u00a0 Definitely worth checking out.\u00a0 I love the architecture of the place.<\/p>\n The next morning we went to Wai-O-Tapu Thermal “Wonderland”.\u00a0 That’s what the brochure calls it.\u00a0 They kind of downplay it with the official sign on entrance.\u00a0 Wonderland perhaps a bit much??<\/p>\n Ohh goodie, more sulphur smells!\u00a0 It is pretty much like Yellowstone, only in a much more condensed area.\u00a0 The view from this area is called the Artists Palette, due to the multiple colors seen from the trail, not from the fact they launched artists from this spot with an old fashioned catapult.\u00a0 They’ll deny it if you ask them.\u00a0 I know.<\/p>\n This area, which is at the top of the above Artists Palette photo, is called the Champagne Pool, due to all the bubbles rising up to the surface.\u00a0 The steam is clear evidence that this water is nearly 100 degrees Celcius.<\/p>\n Very cool colors along the shoreline.\u00a0 The orange is due to Arsenic and Old Lace.\u00a0 Wait, what?\u00a0 No, arsenic and antimony sulfides….yeah, that’s the ticket.<\/p>\n These caution signs are everywhere throughout the park.\u00a0 We were happy to not hear any sirens.\u00a0 This place is not really all that far from White Island, which erupted back on December 9th, so it was in the back of our minds.<\/p>\n This little thermal feature is called Oyster Pool.\u00a0 So cute.<\/p>\n Here is Kim in front of Lake Ngakoro.\u00a0 We thought this water color was unique….little did we know….<\/p>\n This pool is below Champagne Pool, and a lot of different sources collect here to make this amazing green color.\u00a0 Talk about bait for Instagram tools!<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n