Hot water...

The apartment we're staying in is ultra-modern and overall good. But it's rather under-equipped in the kitchen, so breakfast was a bit of an adventure. And the water system is most unusual. The apartments are on the lake, adjacent to a couple of warm water beaches. We can see steam rising from the area directly in front of us. The lake water levels are low, and as a result, the apartments are having trouble keeping the cold water cold. The taps run cold for a few seconds, then get scalding hot. Sometimes it takes 5 minutes+ to get back to cold again. The kids' shower is having temperature challenges AND containment challenges...they've flooded their bathroom twice already.

We had a slow morning with all the water excitement, then headed into town to find a cafe (of course!) Gluten-free seems really big in NZ--half the cafes have had a gluten-free option, always delicious. Today's cafe had gluten-free lemon slice.

We marveled at a McDonalds that randomly had a DC3 acting as its playground...

We stopped at a clothes store so that CC could buy swim shorts. Then off to the Taupo Hot Pools, which were lovely. The yellow pools (which looked very much like they must be the "Peeing Pools" from the color!) were the natural water pools, a beautiful hot-tub temperature and not at all stinky. The blue pools were treated water and cooler. The whole area was landscaped nicely. There was a water slide and kiddie area which MC and KC used a few times.

SC and CC studiously avoiding getting wet

We went back into town and rented kayaks, 2 doubles and 2 singles, and paddled up the coast in sunshine and back again in ever more threatening skies and some light rain by the end.

Then back to the apartment. KC and MC swam in the unusual pool...