Kingsgate Hotel Rotorua

... in a kind of small rapid. This was pretty scary and Carly's face was a picture! We then negotiated a couple of fairly small rapids quite successfully before very quickly arriving at the huge waterfall. There was an opportunity to get out but the prospect of the 25 minute walk just about kept the girls in the boat. We were given our last minute instructions before taking the plunge! We were all holding on very tight and emerged ...

... and the small dwellings were surrounded by giant forests. Each member of the tribe gave us an introduction to the Maori history and lifestyle. We then headed over to the exhibition hall, where the Maori people sang songs, love stories, performed the Haka (!!!) and showed us their heritage. It was epic and engrossing. Shortly after we had a giant Maori feast and then had a farewell Maori song and were also shown how our food was prepared under hot stone fire. Mark, our ...

... this point before deciding to go over the edge in a boat. You'd wonder why! The rest of the time on the water we spent swimming, in Gisele's case going down rapids straddling the back of the kayak, standing up in the raft going down rapids, trying to raft up rapids and so almost sinking the raft with water and sitting on the front of the raft while going down rapids and holding on for dear life! Great fun! It was all over and finished far too fast and we were back in smelly ...

... integrity of the path every day. The Artist's Palette is one of the main attractions here. A large blue lake, lined with bright orange mud. It has to be seen to be believed. Steam rolls off the lake continuously and occasionally breaks the banks, giving us all a stinking steam bath. Really, you don't want to hang around here for too long. If that wasn't enough for you, they also have a pool that is a radioactive green colour. On the way to the park, we stopped to enjoy a ...

... amp; watched,cowards yes we were, but we could imagine both evie & michael being up there with evie screaming but enjoying it,next it was to the park next door learing all about the animal kiwi's, these were almost extinct at one time & are classed as a mammal,they cannot see but can smell at the end of their beaks, small holes for their ears & no feathers, they have very strong legs, & mate the same female for life, the male also sits on the egg, when the chick ...

... of the lake, changing water colours and the ever present smell of sulphur and bad eggs - and that's not down to the usual baked beans!! We then spent a few hours in the outdoor spa/thermal pools which I have to say was very relaxing (if a little smelly as the water is sourced from the immediate surrounds) and made us feel that we were really on holiday now. It was a Dominos Pizza for ...

... feet! Maori and Hans led our congregation to a nearby hut where we would observe traditional song and dance. We watched as Hans had to introduce himself, in typical Maori fashion of course, to another Maori leader who, along with his tribesmen, were not wearing very much at all. But did lots of Ooo and Ahhh and Uggg noises with warpaint on and leaves in their hair. (David: A Maori 'hello' is pretty fearsome, it's not surprising a few got shot when early explorers first encountered ...

... in the naturally heated mineral waters which was so potent it corroded all the lead pipes. Us being scientists we mocked the victorians for their ignornace...although today people still like to bathe in the water purely for recreational purposes. We took a wander around the old bathing rooms, electric treament rooms and mud bath basement. We also watched a video on the last volcanic explosion in rotorua which, the cinema ...

... a storm. The waves were pretty boring, but the wind there was incredible. It rocked the car in the parking lot and made our progress outside difficult. For me the most interesting site there is the ancient forked tree that forms the entrance to the underworld in ancient Maori belief. Nearby are ...