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]

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.

Re: Doing Your Own Thing

[wildgalegirl]

"All right," Charlie said. "I'll give you the phone case. And yes, aunties of any sort are the kind of people you just don't mess with."

Re: Doing Your Own Thing

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

"Pretty sure my phone-case-pragmatism can't be grumped at when it also says to not mess with your Aunties," Arden said with a flourish, like a lawyer delivering the end of closing remarks. "But at least until they show up, we can keep ziplining, swinging, and skydiving?"

Re: Doing Your Own Thing

[wildgalegirl]

"We absolutely can and we will," Charlie said. "Let's at it then!"