🇳🇿 Half-Day Redwoods Forest Hike in Rotorua

🚌 Arrival & Lunch • Took the Intercity bus from Auckland (arrived past noon). • Fueled up with Starbucks (finally, NZ prices ≈ China!). • Saw Duck Tour amphibious vehicles cruising to Lake Rotorua—didn’t join, but looked fun! 🍝 Lunch at Capers Cafe+Store • Creamy chicken pasta (decent but predictable). • Missed out: "Fresh Noodles" was closed (Wednesday blues!). 🏡 Accommodation Hack • Booked an Airbnb room (cheaper than hotels!). • Host was friendly, but hotels win for convenience. • Pro tip: Bee Card (NZ’s transit card) works in Queenstown too—load extra credit! 🌲 Redwoods Forest Adventure 🚍 Took the bus (last one leaves at 5:50PM—plan carefully!). 🎟️ Free ground trails vs. paid Treewalk (night lights = magical!). ⚠️ Trail choices: Some routes are long—pick wisely for your stamina! 🤔 Why I Skipped Te Puia Māori Village 1️⃣ Too rushed for an afternoon double-whammy. 2️⃣ No late buses = 1hr dark walk back (no streetlights—nope!). 3️⃣ Free alternative: Kuirau Park’s geothermal vibes. #RotoruaOnABudget #RedwoodsHike #NZTravelHacks