Rotorua, New Zealand [Tuesday Morning into Afternoon]

[heroic_jawline]

Get set for a big day in Rotorua!

Start at Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, a spectacular showcase of New Zealand's most colorful and unique geothermal elements sculpted by thousands of years of volcanic activity. Explore the out-of-this-world landscape, including the famous mud pool, the largest in New Zealand. Arrive at 10:15 am to hear the history and see the beauty of the Lady Knox Geyser, which erupts daily to heights of 33 to 66 feet (10 to 20 m).

Or you can go back to the swings (or the luge that are up by the swings), try the skydiving, or stay close to the lodge, which also offers activities for the day.

Comments

Re: Doing Your Own Thing

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

"Absolutely!" Arden said, beaming. "Graham and I promised that we'd keep each other in the loop if we found cool things to do, and then I figured the more the merrier. Especially since if I texted you two, I figured I'd definitely end up with more!"

Way better than her plan from yesterday. Ooof.

Re: Doing Your Own Thing

[wildgalegirl]

"Works for me," Charlie said. "And I'm definitely going skydiving again. There's no way I'm missing out on a chance like that!"

Re: Doing Your Own Thing

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

"Absolutely!" Arden agreed. "And I promise to not hear your phone no matter where it may be ringing from. Or my phone either, just to be safe."

Re: Doing Your Own Thing

[wildgalegirl]

"Oh Lord, if they got hold of your number..." She held her head, then laughed. "Well, mine hasn't shown up yet and if your phone isn't from this plane we might be okay."

Re: Doing Your Own Thing

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

"...Did you not take it back?!"

Re: Doing Your Own Thing

[wildgalegirl]

"My phone? No." Charlie laughed at Arden's expression. "Don't worry. It will turn up. Allie's friend Michael once accidentally flushed his down the toilet. It got mailed back to him four days later. Smelled a little odd, but it still worked."

Re: Doing Your Own Thing

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

"Yeah, that would still be a hard pass," Arden snickered. "I'd still just get a whole new phone. Don't have to send me back a phone that went through the sewer system, I'm willing to let it go."

Re: Doing Your Own Thing

[wildgalegirl]

"If the Aunties give you a phone..." Charlie said ominously. "But yeah, I'm careful not to do that. Still, free reliable unlimited phone and internet that works everywhere? Can't beat it."

Re: Doing Your Own Thing

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

Arden kinda twitched at free, but had to remind herself that Charlie was family and therefore it was different.

Probably.

"Okay, well in that case, a lot of heavy duty cases and stuff," Arden chuckled.

Re: Doing Your Own Thing

[wildgalegirl]

"They are pretty indestructible," Charlie said thoughtfully. "I mostly just tuck it in my back pocket."

Re: Doing Your Own Thing

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

"Sure, but if they end up somewhere gross, it's a lot easier to ditch the case and the screen protector, than risking Auntie wrath tossing the whole damn thing."

Re: Doing Your Own Thing

[wildgalegirl]

"That is an awesome point! I'm getting right on that." She beamed at Arden. "Now why hasn't anyone else ever thought of that?"

Re: Doing Your Own Thing

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

Arden winked back at her. "Sometimes the best magic is practicality," she said.

Re: Doing Your Own Thing

[wildgalegirl]

Winking, were you? Charlie could return a suggestively raised eyebrow and a smile. "Good thing we've got you along."

Re: Doing Your Own Thing

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

Arden looked a little flustered. "Glad to be included," she said, flushed but still very sincere.

Re: Doing Your Own Thing

[wildgalegirl]

Charlie just grinned and let it lie. She didn't push, but she was here.

Then she slapped her forehead, laughed, and pointed at the guy at the end of the ride waving and pointing to her phone. "They've found me."

Re: Doing Your Own Thing

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

"It was a good run," Arden intoned. "Maybe try drop it from the swing this time. Might take 'em longer to find it."

Re: Doing Your Own Thing

[wildgalegirl]

"Or down a ravine," Charlie joked.

Re: Doing Your Own Thing

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

"At this point you're just doing science to discover the perimeters of the charm," Arden pointed out. "And undertaking rigorous scientific testing is an important part of one's education!"

She might have undercut her argument when she pointed out, "Before you ask though, no, I'm not going to be the one to make that argument to your Aunties."

Re: Doing Your Own Thing

[wildgalegirl]

"That sounds like way too much work," Charlie said with a laugh. "There is absolutely no way the Aunties would believe I put that much effort into anything."

Re: Doing Your Own Thing

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

"A sign of maturity," Arden declared. "Even more reason they can't argue!"

Re: Doing Your Own Thing

[wildgalegirl]

Charlie laughed until she had to bend over to catch her breath. "They've known me since I was born and they were just in Fandom a few weeks ago. If I told them that they'd be here so fast your head would spin to see if I was possessed or something and then the rest of this trip would be too boring for babies."

Re: Doing Your Own Thing

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

"Mmm, I was willing to say I was settling a great example, but if they're gonna show up and make the trip boring for everyone, I take it back and you're on your own for the phone thing," Arden said, like a helpful friend.

Re: Doing Your Own Thing

[wildgalegirl]

"Yeah, I think I'd better just carry on the way I have been," Charlie said easily. "But I appreciate the suggestion. And the non-existent support. Not."

Re: Doing Your Own Thing

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

"Look, I gave you the idea for the phone case," Arden said, cheerfully. "And it's your fault for making your Aunties sound like, well, aunties. I knew better than to mess with the church aunties when I was a kid and they didn't even have magic."

Well. Black Girl Magic(tm), but that was different.