We Explore Rotorua

Trip Start Feb 08, 2008
1
13
29
Trip End Mar 10, 2008


Loading Map
Map your own trip!
Map Options
Show trip route
Hide lines
shadow
Where I stayed
Heritage Hotel
(Rotorua hotels)

Flag of New Zealand  ,
Sunday, February 17, 2008

Another early start this morning as we are going on the  Rotorua Morning Sights tour.    Morning is when the large geo thermal activity takes place here.    We head to Te Puia Thermal Reserve (which we can see from our hotel window).  Entry to the Reserve  is through an ornate circle of Maori carvings, each an outstanding example of Maori artistry.  I resolve to find a way back to take more pictures as we head to the mud pools.  These are huge cauldrons of boiling mud and the mud actually leaps into the air from the heat.  Then onto the geysers.  Activity has been building up over the morning and  our guide expects that an eruption is imminent.  It is a beautiful sight as steaming water bubbles over terraces of volcanic rock.  After about 10 minutes we are rewarded with a spectacular eruption that  goes 150 feet into the air.  It is such an interesting area I could have spent much more time, but more crowds are arriving so we are moved along to the rest of the centre to spend a little time admiring  Maori carvings and jewelry (which of course is for sale) Mud Hole
Mud Hole
 .   I skip out of this area, head back to the carvings at the welcoming circle and feast my eyes until it is time to head back onto the bus, next stop the Agrodome.
 
I did not expect to enjoy the Agrodome as much as I did, after all it is all about sheep.  The commentator turns out to be very amusing and the sheep are actually quite amusing as well.  The commentator  leads one sheep at a time out to the display area, talks about the type of sheep that it is and then attaches the sheep to a feeding dish to keep it quiet.   Then another sheep is led into place.  Soon there is a lot of sheep on stage.  Eventually the sheep start to  jostle each other  to eat from each others food trays  while the commentator  tries to keep control.  Then some of the sheep still waiting to be shown on stage start to leap out of their pens while an assistant is kept busy trying to keep them in their pens.  The sheep  know that there is food in the trays and they are eager to get to it.  It causes a great deal of laughter from the audience.  The finale is when the sheep dogs come out and give a demonstration, they are amazing.  The dogs finish by running up and down on the backs of the sheep.   The show moves outside where we are given an example of sheep herding. 
 
After the Agrodome we hustle off to Rainbow Falls to see an area where trout are bred for the countries large sport fishing industry Finale at the Agrodome
Finale at the Agrodome
 .  The highlight though is the visit to the Kiwi Sanctuary where we get to see our first kiwi.   These birds are now almost extinct and there are major programs in place to try and restore their population.  Kiwis are about the size of a small chicken.  While we are there the kiwi is active and is searching for food.  During our stay in NZ a baby kiwi is hatched  at this sanctuary - a cause of great excitement. 
 
The afternoon is not  scheduled so Al and I go for  a long walk along a geo thermal riverbed, then walk further to see a local  Maori meeting house and an early Anglican Church.  This church  contains a picture of Christ dressed as a Maori.  With the lake in the background it appear that Christ is walking on the water. Was this how they tempted the Maori to become Christians?  After all this walking we find an Art Walk and relax and listen to music and browse the booths before moving on to the Pig and Whistle, food is calling.  Not the Pig and Whistle we are used to, this one is an old Police station that has been converted to a restaurant - lamb burgers coming right up - yummy!
Slideshow Print this entry