Thu 24 Dec 2015 Rotorua

Summary:
Day trip to explore Rotorua. Discovered a public park with heaps of geothermal features (bubbling mud, vents with hot steam, hot pools) fenced off. It even had a foot spa for the public to use which was heated from the hot pools. We also found another public area alongside Lake Rotorua which was mostly dried up, with heaps of sulphur remnants (and smell).

Pohutu Geyser

We went for a drive to see the Redwood forest and Lake Tarawera. Later on we went to Te Puia, a tourist geothermal and Maori cultural place, where we learnt about the Moari language and culture, and watched the poi dance and the Haka. We also saw the elusive nocturnal kiwi bird - it was larger than we had imagined. We were lucky to witness a couple of geysers shooting water while we were there. We had a traditional Maori Hangi meal with not so traditional foods. The meal was excellent, with a variety of meats and seafood and salads. The salted caramel profiteroles were amazing!!

Highlights:
MK:The hangi meal was great.
MJ:The haka dance was fantastic and the food was yummy too.
MH:Yummy food at the hangi.

Logbook:
09:00 (342 km) Breakfast of toast. MK had a haircut.
11:00 (342 km) Leave for Rotorua.
11:50 (411 km) We knew we arrived at Rotorua when we were overwhelmed with the smell of rotten eggs. We held our noses and went to i-Site for information of how to get rid of the smell. Apparently, there was no way. However, it is interesting to note that there are air refreshers in the toilets. Not sure why. We got some lunch of pies and Subway. We walked to a public park Kuirao Park with geothermal activities including steaming water holes and hot mud pools. We bought some very sweet and crunchy apples from the market.
13:45 (411 km) Went for a drive. Visited the Blue Lake and Lake Tarawera. Learnt how the White and Pink Terraces (considered the 8th wonder of the world) was destroyed by Mt Tarawera eruption in 1886. It buried a nearby village as well.
14:40 (444 km) Redwoods. There is a suspended platform walk amongst the majestic tress. MJ bought a cute kiwi t shirt for $10.

Redwood Forest

15:30 (451 km) Te Puia. We had booked a day and evening tour which showcased the Maori language and culture, kiwi house, geothermal areas of mud pools, geysers. MJ volunteered to go up on stage to learn the haka during the cultural performance. Witnessed the hangi meal being lifted out of a ground oven with lots of yummy food.  The hangi meal included mussels, prawns, pork, beef, chicken, pasta, potato, pumpkin, Maori sweet potato. There were desserts including pudding, pavlova, mousse, profiteroles and ice cream. Then we went on a motorised waca (it was actually a motorised buggy) to the geysers and had hot chocolate and sat on hot rocks.

 

21:00 (451 km) Leave Te Puia.
21:15 (457 km) Fill up.
22:05 (523 km) Got back to Papamoa Beach.