Today, I spontaneously decided to visit the Tokaanu Thermal Pools in Tokaanu. At 9 am, I woke up to the sound of rain. In a hurry, I dashed to the hostel for a quick bathroom break. Though I intended to shower, time was limited—I had to leave in the next 15 minutes. I quickly brushed my teeth and had a brief shave before heading out.
Exhaustion set in as I had an uneasy night, feeling a bit under the weather. Despite the captivating experiences in New Zealand, there were moments when it all became overwhelming, and the thought of heading home crossed my mind. Over the past days, the yearning for the familiar comfort of my own house, time with my family, and a return to a regular daily routine grew. I found myself missing my colleagues from both of my jobs.
Embracing Rainy Blessings
The rainy days turned out to be a blessing, I realized. Instead of viewing them negatively, I saw them as an opportunity. I welcomed two days of doing nothing—simply relaxing, writing articles, reading my book, and taking it easy.
This plan was devised later in the day. Initially, I intended to drive towards Rotorua, nearly 200 kilometers from National Park—an ambitious idea, considering that I planned to revisit the Mordor movie location next Friday.
I set off, opting to visit Lake Taupo today, situated 100 kilometers from National Park. The road offered a pleasant drive, and I couldn’t help but admire Mount Ngauruhoe along the way—Mount Doom looked stunning.
Te Ponanga Saddle View Point
Fifty kilometers from Tongariro National Park, I spotted a sign indicating a lookout. Curious, I chose to explore Te Ponanga Saddle View Point. The scenery was pleasant, and the weather had improved. Regrettably, the view from the Mount Ruapehu lookout wasn’t as clear today due to numerous clouds enveloping the mountain, obstructing the sight of Mount Ngauruhoe.
Following the lookout, I navigated a road with several bends and twists before reaching an intersection. Although the correct route was to turn right, I spotted a sign for the Tokaanu Thermal Pools and decided to follow it, opting to turn left instead.
Tokaanu Thermal Pools Adventure
Given that I had already planned to indulge in a spa experience in Lake Taupo today, I thought, why not do it here? It would be more convenient to drive back to National Park from this point. Crossing the bridge I had noticed earlier from the lookout, I reached a quaint village called Tokaanu.
I parked my car in front of the building and conducted some research on my mobile phone. I discovered a well-reviewed hostel nearby in the town of Turangi. I was excited, especially since it was off-season in this small town, and I anticipated the chance to secure a private dorm. After finishing my planning, I decided to visit the Tokaanu Thermal Pools.
Discovering Thermal Walk
Observing that there was a Thermal Walk at the Tokaanu Thermal Pools, I opted to give it a try. I entered the building, inquired about the prices from the lady at the counter, and informed her that I intended to begin with the thermal walk.
The walk lasted 20 minutes, and it was both easy and enjoyable. The sulfuric smells brought back memories of Kawah Ijen, although the sulfur clouds there were more intense. Witnessing boiling water, steam, and spluttering mud was fascinating. I relished the walk and looked forward to immersing myself in a thermal pool.
Private Pool Experience
Heading to my car, I retrieved my swimming trunks, a towel, and some money. I bought access to a private pool for 10 dollars. While it wasn’t extravagant, that didn’t bother me. Upon reaching my pool, I returned to the lady and inquired if I could have a drink. Initially, she mentioned only water was allowed, but she eventually agreed to a Coke Zero as long as I promised not to spill anything.
The pool at Tokaanu Thermal Pools was fantastic, and the moment I sat down, it brought back memories of my day at Lake Toba, particularly the hot springs there. The water felt soothing, and I was confident it would benefit my eczema on my arms. I relished 30 minutes in the private pool before spending additional time in the public pool. There weren’t many people around at that moment. As I departed, a Maori family was just entering the public pool. It was noteworthy that these thermal pools were also under the management of Maori people.
Turangi Hostel
After spending an hour at the Tokaanu Thermal Pools, I drove to Turangi. Thanks to Google Maps, finding the hostel was a breeze. Upon arrival, I entered and had to wait for two French guys who were checking in. The lady at the reception took her time, providing detailed explanations. I didn’t mind the wait as I had plenty of time. The lady was very friendly, and it was evident she was an excellent host. This hostel exceeded my expectations.
Once the guys had completed their check-in and left, I inquired about a private dorm as I was eager to get some rest. The lady informed me that the 4-person dormitory was currently unoccupied.
Evening Grocery Shopping
After checking in and placing my belongings, my first stop was the supermarket. I picked up some chicken, a capsicum, an onion, eggs, and a few snacks. Returning to the hostel, I settled into my bed and took some time to relax. Later in the afternoon, I indulged in a brief nap.
Moving on to the evening: I prepared a simple yet satisfying meal by cooking chicken with onions and capsicum. I boiled the eggs and placed them in cold water to cool. After enjoying my main course, I crafted a delightful egg salad using the eggs, onions, and mayonnaise. I planned to save it for the next day’s breakfast.
Internet Frustrations
Later in the evening, I dedicated some time to additional writing and eventually performed an update on the website. I had acquired 300 megabytes of internet data with the hostel, but the network proved to be frustratingly inefficient. After just one hour, my internet had expired, which seemed illogical. Although the upload had completed, I couldn’t have consumed that much data in such a short period. This situation bothered me, as the website was now only half uploaded. Tomorrow, I planned to visit the library to complete the upload of the remaining files.
I chose not to relax for the remainder of my time. Around midnight, I headed to bed. Tomorrow, my plan was to do absolutely nothing!
