Whakarewarewa and the Polynesian Spa from Auckland: Alkaline and Acidic Pools

A long day, and the numbers say so up front: Auckland to Rotorua is about three and a half hours each way. What is at the other end justifies the drive for most people who book it. First Whakarewarewa, a Māori village that people still live in. Steam comes up between the houses, mud pools bubble at the edge of the paths, and geysers go off on their own schedule. Local guides walk you through it and explain how the village uses the ground it sits on. Traditional song and dance are part of the visit. Then the Polynesian Spa on the shore of Lake Rotorua. What makes it unusual is that it draws two different waters. The alkaline springs are the soft ones, easy to sit in for a long time. The acidic springs are the other kind, and the two feel different on the skin. Both come from deep under the ground here. The pools look out over the lake and the forest behind it. There is a stop for lunch in Rotorua on the way through. Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund.