Hell’s Gate is a popular attraction located over a geothermal hot spot in Rotorua. While it’s perhaps best known for its mud baths and relaxing spa, there is a fascinating 45-minute walk circling the perimeter of the grounds with views of bubbling mud and geothermal activity.

Unfortunately our visit coincides with less than ideal weather, but my friend Emma and I are excited to brave the rain and check out the walk.

Emma and I don ponchos in a last-ditch effort to stay dry, but it’s in vain. We will end up entirely soaked by the end of our walk.

Playwright George Bernard Shaw is credited with naming the area during his visit a century ago.

Here’s a silver fern on the left below, which is emblematic of New Zealand.

Lest you get the impression Hell’s Gate is all grays, whites, and muted tones, here are a few splashes of color:

Anyone hungry for an adult pig?

Emma throws caution into the wind and dangerously dips her fingers into a non-boiling pool of water. Luckily her hand comes out intact!

Her expression is priceless:

We stop by the wood carving shed and the expert helps us chisel a traditional design onto a block of wood to take home as a souvenir.

I pick the simple Kawakawa design while Emma ambitiously selects a Kiwi figure.

I’m struggling a bit to get the curves just right on my block of wood, but Emma is a natural.

Thankfully the expert steps in to clean up my carving.

Emma’s kiwi creature turns out very well, but she flashes a “Good try, but I could have done better” look for the camera.

Overall we’re pleased with the results. Emma is a schoolteacher in the U.K. and she plans to hang it in her classroom next year alongside other remnants of her trip to engage the kids in conversations about culture and travel.

Next up, we head to the mud baths:

To my family and close friends — do I remind you of someone? Maybe this guy?

It’s not until I look over my photos later that I realize the mud on my face resembles a beard, which my dad has worn since I was born (except for a brief period in the early 90’s when he scaled back to a mustache-only look… but we all have regrets in life). His beard used to be much darker than the above photo, which is why my inadvertent ‘mud beard’ reminds me of him.

We dig deep into the mud pool and slather our feet.

And our hands.

We feel like little kids playing in a sandbox mudbox.

After our twenty minutes in the mud bath is up, we move over to the hot springs. There’s no time limit at this point so we take our time luxuriating in the hot water.

This was an excellent way to spend a rainy day. Thanks to Emma for accompanying me on a very wet walk and posing for so many photos!

And many thanks to Hell’s Gate for sponsoring my visit! Opinions, as always, are my own.