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| Heading towards Rotorua |
It has certainly been a packed day for the excursion group I was assigned to. The weather was overcast and mild in Tauranga when we docked but guests were determined to make the most of their day.
It was a good 1½ hours or so Rotorua and our guide/driver gave an ongoing commentary about the scenery that we passed through, pointing out things of interest as well as answering guests questions. Oour guide/driver had either false teeth or a plate which, unfortunately, he kept sucking on so when he talked so there was this almost constant 'tsk' sound. It could have been a tick the microphone system but I doubt it.
Our first destination was Rainbow Springs Nature Park and the nocturnal kiwi house. Our site guide at Rainbow Springs was very knowledgeable. As we walked along the tree-lined paths we passed streams, ponds with rainbow trout, birds - some allowed to move freely about the park, others in cages; and the reptile area. We didn't fully cover the park as time was limited but instead we got to see the main areas/highlights of the park. This included nocturnal kiwi house was a supposed to be a quiet, dark, place but as you can imagine – some people simply did not listen. People still used the flashes on their cameras and made a bit of noise. Unfortunately the photographs I took didn't come out at all so I have not got any photographs of them. At least I managed to get photographs while in the information centre that preceded the nocturnal area. Kiwis are quite temperamental birds and the site guide did not want too much disturbance in case the kiwis fled into the undergrowth. Kiwis are a protected species and any eggs found in the wild are removed from the nest and incubated artificially. The chicks are raised until they reach about 1kg in weight and then released into the wild. The artificial incubation increases the survival rate for the kiwi eggs, i.e. from natural predators such as stoats and ferrets; and the release weight is important so that the bird is big enough to defend itself from predators as well.
Our next stop was to Mitai Village for a Maori cultural performance and a traditional hangi meal. After an introduction by one of the staff we were directed along path, past a bubbling spring (Fairy Spring which is sacred to the Maori) with beautiful clear water, down to the river where we saw Maori warriors on a canoe. From there we went past part of the restored Maori village (or possibly a mock-up) and joined up with the Maori warriors in the performing area. The traditional challenge was given by the Chief and a designated spokesman responded on our behalf after which there was a show of traditional music, singing and dancing. It was a lovely show and the passengers
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This is what an uncovered 'hangi' looks like.
This photograph is from one of my previous blogs. |
had a bit of insight into the Maori culture. Next it was time for lunch followed. Lamb, potatoes, chicken, vegetables sweet potatoes had been cooking slowly on hot rocks, covered in clean sack cloths, for a few hours before we had come. By the time the performance was over our meal was ready and was laid out in a buffet style. It was delicious.
At the end of the meal we boarded the bus and our driver/guide took us on a slow through Rotorua (whew did the town stink of sulphur!!) to Hell’s Gate Geothermal Reserve. Due to time constraints our site guide could not take us on a full tour of Hell’s Gate so we got a shortened version. It was a very interesting tour and we had to stick strictly to the paths because of holes opening up (although the path is checked every morning before guests arrive). The earth’s crust at that area is very thin – the heat source being about 1 ½ to 2kms below the surface. It was interesting seeing the stark peaky land with yellow sulphur areas dotted about. There was a hot waterfall with clear water running down the rocks at around 40°C. The waterfall is sacred to the Maoris and only the warriors (in the past) could bathe there. There were bubbling mud pools and simmering hot spring pools. Some of the black, grey and white mud that comes up to the surface is used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. One can take a mud bath in the spa area of the geothermal reserve. People taking a mud bath find it very relaxing and beneficial due to the high mineral content of the mud. The sulphur smell through the geothermal reserve was extremely pungent except in a forest area. The forest absorbed the smells. In the past, sulphur was used on wounds and to treat conditions such as arthritis and skin ailments.
All too soon our tour was at an end and we had to get back to the ship. Our driver/guide was into the xmas spirit already and played some festive music. I manged to have a nap during the journey back. As for the other guests - I'm not sure.
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| Route to our next port - Auckland. |
PHOTOGRAPHS
It was a good 1½ hours or so Rotorua and our guide/driver gave an ongoing commentary about the scenery that we passed through, pointing out things of interest as well as answering guests questions. Oour guide/driver had either false teeth or a plate which, unfortunately, he kept sucking on so when he talked so there was this almost constant 'tsk' sound. It could have been a tick the microphone system but I doubt it.
Our first destination was Rainbow Springs Nature Park and the nocturnal kiwi house. Our site guide at Rainbow Springs was very knowledgeable. As we walked along the tree-lined paths we passed streams, ponds with rainbow trout, birds - some allowed to move freely about the park, others in cages; and the reptile area. We didn't fully cover the park as time was limited but instead we got to see the main areas/highlights of the park. This included nocturnal kiwi house was a supposed to be a quiet, dark, place but as you can imagine – some people simply did not listen. People still used the flashes on their cameras and made a bit of noise. Unfortunately the photographs I took didn't come out at all so I have not got any photographs of them. At least I managed to get photographs while in the information centre that preceded the nocturnal area. Kiwis are quite temperamental birds and the site guide did not want too much disturbance in case the kiwis fled into the undergrowth. Kiwis are a protected species and any eggs found in the wild are removed from the nest and incubated artificially. The chicks are raised until they reach about 1kg in weight and then released into the wild. The artificial incubation increases the survival rate for the kiwi eggs, i.e. from natural predators such as stoats and ferrets; and the release weight is important so that the bird is big enough to defend itself from predators as well.
At the end of the meal we boarded the bus and our driver/guide took us on a slow through Rotorua (whew did the town stink of sulphur!!) to Hell’s Gate Geothermal Reserve. Due to time constraints our site guide could not take us on a full tour of Hell’s Gate so we got a shortened version. It was a very interesting tour and we had to stick strictly to the paths because of holes opening up (although the path is checked every morning before guests arrive). The earth’s crust at that area is very thin – the heat source being about 1 ½ to 2kms below the surface. It was interesting seeing the stark peaky land with yellow sulphur areas dotted about. There was a hot waterfall with clear water running down the rocks at around 40°C. The waterfall is sacred to the Maoris and only the warriors (in the past) could bathe there. There were bubbling mud pools and simmering hot spring pools. Some of the black, grey and white mud that comes up to the surface is used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. One can take a mud bath in the spa area of the geothermal reserve. People taking a mud bath find it very relaxing and beneficial due to the high mineral content of the mud. The sulphur smell through the geothermal reserve was extremely pungent except in a forest area. The forest absorbed the smells. In the past, sulphur was used on wounds and to treat conditions such as arthritis and skin ailments.
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