It was a grueling nine hour day on our excursion to the Maori heartland of Rotorua. Both Michael and I were escorts on the same trip, but on different a different bus. Four months post back surgery and I cannot believe that I was able to complete this trip with no back or leg pain, and I actually felt pretty good doing all the walking, stair climbing and standing. We came back exhausted, but I did it!
We headed inland from the port of Tauranga, New Zealand’s largest port, toward Rotorua, a center of thermal activity and Maori culture. We drove through agricultural fields of avocados, corn and kiwifruit. There were gently rolling green pastures with cows, deer and sheep. There were forested mountains. We saw it all.
We headed inland from the port of Tauranga, New Zealand’s largest port, toward Rotorua, a center of thermal activity and Maori culture. We drove through agricultural fields of avocados, corn and kiwifruit. There were gently rolling green pastures with cows, deer and sheep. There were forested mountains. We saw it all.
We stopped to see bubbling mud pools.
Our second stop was ------- the bathrooms! Older people cannot hold their water. On my bus of 38 passengers, 37 got off to go (and the 38th was me!). Our bus driver then informed us we only had 10 minutes before the Knox geyser was to blow. How do you get 37 people back on the bus when most of them were women standing in a long line waiting to use the facilities? Why if you are me, you announce “Bus 3 mount up, we only have 10 minutes to see the geyser blow. We are coming right back here after that and you will have plenty of time to go then.” Worked like a charm. I had very cooperative ladies and they even waited to shop!
The Knox geyser was a staged blow. By that, the park ranger gave a short talk about geysers in general and this one in particular. Seems like the early settlers needed to wash their clothes, so they put laundry soap into the geyser and they found out it made the darn thing blow, and up and away went the clothes and they got a very hot shower as well. Our ranger did the same (real laundry soap) and it was so hokie.
Our next stop was at Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland. Sounds like there might be adventures rides, doesn’t it? The name translates to “sacred waters” and you can understand why when you see it. We were on a self-guided tour of a half mile on uneven ground where we saw geysers, collapsed craters, mud pools, mineral traces, colorful hot and cold pools and steaming volcanic lakes. There was an incredible palette of colors and hues caused by the abundance of different minerals. We only saw a small portion of the area as we had to hoof it rather quickly in order to meet back at the bus in the time allotted. It stunk to high heaven with hydrogen sulphide or the rotten egg smell. I have been to other thermal pools, but this one took the prize for stinkiness.
Our second stop was ------- the bathrooms! Older people cannot hold their water. On my bus of 38 passengers, 37 got off to go (and the 38th was me!). Our bus driver then informed us we only had 10 minutes before the Knox geyser was to blow. How do you get 37 people back on the bus when most of them were women standing in a long line waiting to use the facilities? Why if you are me, you announce “Bus 3 mount up, we only have 10 minutes to see the geyser blow. We are coming right back here after that and you will have plenty of time to go then.” Worked like a charm. I had very cooperative ladies and they even waited to shop!
The Knox geyser was a staged blow. By that, the park ranger gave a short talk about geysers in general and this one in particular. Seems like the early settlers needed to wash their clothes, so they put laundry soap into the geyser and they found out it made the darn thing blow, and up and away went the clothes and they got a very hot shower as well. Our ranger did the same (real laundry soap) and it was so hokie.
Our next stop was at Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland. Sounds like there might be adventures rides, doesn’t it? The name translates to “sacred waters” and you can understand why when you see it. We were on a self-guided tour of a half mile on uneven ground where we saw geysers, collapsed craters, mud pools, mineral traces, colorful hot and cold pools and steaming volcanic lakes. There was an incredible palette of colors and hues caused by the abundance of different minerals. We only saw a small portion of the area as we had to hoof it rather quickly in order to meet back at the bus in the time allotted. It stunk to high heaven with hydrogen sulphide or the rotten egg smell. I have been to other thermal pools, but this one took the prize for stinkiness.
The craters are up to 150 feet in diameter and 60 feet deep. Several contain hot water springs and most have extensive sulphur deposits formed by escaping vapors meeting with the atmosphere. Most of these craters have been formed over the last few hundred years by the action of acidic steam rising from super-heated underground water dissolving the ground above and ultimately causing it to collapse. At one point, our path crossed over one of the spewing pools on a specially treated timber boardwalk that was secured by stainless steel pins. This is one time where one doesn’t pause to take pictures as there were no handrails for safety.
Thermal parks and hot water springs are used to heat homes and even generate power.
By this time, I was hot and sweaty and looking forward to our next stop – lunch in a cool restaurant. NOT. We went to Rainbow Springs Wildlife Park, a lovely park set in a natural environment of native bush, trees, plants and flowers, with crystal clear streams from subterranean springs. There were also pools filled with colorful trout (you cannot buy or sell trout, you have to catch it yourself or have a friend give you some from his catch) and many native birds including the Kiwi. There is a breeding and conservation program to save the Kiwi. The survival rate for chicks is only 5%. These cute, rollie pollie birds are flightless and have no wings. They have a long beak and its nostrils are at the end of the beak. They are nocturnal and live in ground burrows; and are very hard to see, but I actually saw one! It is like a stuffed animal that you want to cuddle with.
Then it was time for lunch. We took a gondola up Mt. Mgongotaha to the Skyline Restaurant. We had an expansive view of Lake Rotorua, the city and the surrounding areas. The lake is known for its large group of black swans. Lunch was well – a buffet with seven bus loads of people forming long, long lines in a very hot and crowded room. We were entertained by some Maori dancers.
On our return journey to the ship, we stopped to look at kiwifruit hanging from the vines. Te Puke is the kiwi capital of the world. The fruit was brought to New Zealand in 1904 from China, where it is known as the gooseberry. There is the green variety that most of us are familiar with, and the expensive gold variety. All fruit is harvested by hand.
We drove through the town of Tauranga, which is an upscale beach resort town. There are lots of expensive homes and a beautiful white sandy beach with restaurants, bistros and chic shopping.
That’s the end of our day’s adventure.
New Zealand Facts and History
Thermal parks and hot water springs are used to heat homes and even generate power.
By this time, I was hot and sweaty and looking forward to our next stop – lunch in a cool restaurant. NOT. We went to Rainbow Springs Wildlife Park, a lovely park set in a natural environment of native bush, trees, plants and flowers, with crystal clear streams from subterranean springs. There were also pools filled with colorful trout (you cannot buy or sell trout, you have to catch it yourself or have a friend give you some from his catch) and many native birds including the Kiwi. There is a breeding and conservation program to save the Kiwi. The survival rate for chicks is only 5%. These cute, rollie pollie birds are flightless and have no wings. They have a long beak and its nostrils are at the end of the beak. They are nocturnal and live in ground burrows; and are very hard to see, but I actually saw one! It is like a stuffed animal that you want to cuddle with.
On our return journey to the ship, we stopped to look at kiwifruit hanging from the vines. Te Puke is the kiwi capital of the world. The fruit was brought to New Zealand in 1904 from China, where it is known as the gooseberry. There is the green variety that most of us are familiar with, and the expensive gold variety. All fruit is harvested by hand.
We drove through the town of Tauranga, which is an upscale beach resort town. There are lots of expensive homes and a beautiful white sandy beach with restaurants, bistros and chic shopping.
That’s the end of our day’s adventure.
New Zealand Facts and History
In 1350, the Maori landed and settled in the hills of Tauranga. There were lots of tribal land wars and they were cannibals. In 1642 Able Tasman met these frightening natives and left, but not before he named the island New Zealand, which is a translation from the dutch name for New Holland. Captain Cook, the sailor who really got around, claimed the land for England in 1769. Whaling stations were created all around the islands in the early days and brought rats with them, which ate the kiwifruit and birds. Then weasels were brought in to eat the rats, and possum to control the weasels. Now they have a problem with the possum and they seem to have failed in controlling them. So they have figured out a way to use these creatures – pluck the fur and make yarn blended with merino wool. It is lightweight and very soft. I even knit a hat out of it.
The sheep industry is in decline due to low prices for meat and wool. Much of the land has been converted to dairy farming, which is now the largest industry in New Zealand. Other exports include logs, kiwi, beef, and honey made from the Manuka tree. Deer farming has become quite profitable as there is a high demand for venison in Europe. Deer are very gentle creatures and easy to control. I could not believe my eyes as I watched them laying down in a fenced in grassy pasture and not running away.
The silver fern is the national logo and represents the sports teams. Rugby is THE sport here, with an almost fanatical devotion from the fans.
The sheep industry is in decline due to low prices for meat and wool. Much of the land has been converted to dairy farming, which is now the largest industry in New Zealand. Other exports include logs, kiwi, beef, and honey made from the Manuka tree. Deer farming has become quite profitable as there is a high demand for venison in Europe. Deer are very gentle creatures and easy to control. I could not believe my eyes as I watched them laying down in a fenced in grassy pasture and not running away.
The silver fern is the national logo and represents the sports teams. Rugby is THE sport here, with an almost fanatical devotion from the fans.
I think this so far has been the highlight of your trip! Spending time with your friends plus New Zealand has so much history and a great place to see.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn