Sudima Rotorua

Leaving Auckland behind We were up, breakfasted and on the road in good time this morning heading south towards Rotorua. Last evening's waiter recommended that we stop in Hamilton on the way down to see the Hamilton Gardens – and his advice was very ...

... - for the folks that know.  Had a good browse in the souvenir shop, then a good pie in the cafe - ultimate view over Rotorua - however it was so grey because of the weather setting in!  Took our first luge ride on the 2.2km scenic route that ...

Let me just say this right off the bat: The people here are just so nice and helpful. We drove straight to Rotorua without stopping. I was just a bit too focused on the driving to try to figure out how to get to the Waitomo Caves. Maybe we'll hit ...

... minutes down there, but I was engrossed and couldn't pull myself away. Then we packed and we all headed out on the road to Rotorua. Unfortunately, the beginning of it was the same road as the one we traveled the day before, so that was kind of boring, ...

... made out of New Zealand sheeps wooly coats, but we will need something warm when we get back to UK. Arrived in Rotorua late afternoon at our hotel, the Sudima down by the lake. The smell of sulphur is pungent to start with, but you quickly get used ...

This morning we visited the Waikato museum in Hamilton before driving to Rotorua. Lily and Heath were a bit shocked by the smell, but seem to be over it now. We did some shopping at Farmers (like a Target?) and Countdown (like Coles?). We now have a pram ...

... interesting to learn about all the native flora and fauna. From there we joined with a tour of the local Mauri village. Rotorua is built on thermal hotsprings and there are tons of mineral pools and even geisers everywhere. At the village even the ground ...

... . We got to the hotel and then some people when off in different directions for different activities.  So the area of rotorua has lots of geothermal activity.  Lots of hot springs and stuff like that.  and it definitely smells like ...

... to see them able to graze in large pastures. Our next stop was to the Skyline where we all rode a gondola to the top of Rotorua's highest point. We ate lunch at the top and some of us rode luges down the mountain. Dwayne smoked me of that course...lots ...

Our second day in Rotorua we visited the Rotorua Museum and then in the evening we did the Mitai Maori village tour. This was a great experience, we were picked up from the hotel at around 6pm and got back after 10pm. The evening included a war canoe ...

Just reached Rotorua, sad to leave our lovely tree house on Coromandel.  We're told to expect some serious bad weather for the next two days so we've been brushing up on our earthquake and tsunami drill!!!!!!!!!!  plus there's also an invasion ...

... We arrived in Auckland where we met up with our bus driver, Bill. We continued south by bus to the town of Rotorua, home to many Maori. Along the drive I couldn't help but think about how much the countryside resembles central California. The ...

... . It was definitely worth the drive. Unfortunately pictures weren't allowed in the cave.  As today was our last full day in Rotorua, we managed to fit quite a few things in. Firstly we went took the Gondola up the mountain and Heath and Daniel went ...

Thursday was our full day in Rotorua. The sound of millions of birds woke us up. That morning we went to breakfast at the hotel - Amy tried kidney - and I braved the freezing cold and stinky smell to take gorgeous pictures of the sunrise.  After ...

... above us, like a surreal green galaxy. After the tour, back onto the bus and we continued with the same driver to Rotorua - a large living Maori community and the most geothermal active place in NZ - if I am correct.  Luckily dropped off at the ...

Started on a 16 day bus trip  to the south island. Everyday there was so many activities ... in one day went to the a sheep shearing demonstration which was surprisingly fun (did you know there was 19 breeds of sheep in NZ), to a nature ...

the storm came and on the very rainy day we visited the Heritage Museum which was originally a Victorian Health Spa using thermal waters.  Fascinating video feature of the 1886 volcanic eruption in Mount Tarawera in which 120 people died when the ...