Mar 9, 2013 - Having a tad of culture in a Pooooey Town!

When we arrived in Rotorua, we were hit by this stench. In Rotorua you see steam coming from under the streets through storm drains and boiling mud pools. Rotorua is known as Sulphur city and in the native Maori language, Whangapipiro, meaning evil smelling place. The sulphur dioxide gas created by the geothermal activity causes the town to have a very distinctive smell – pooey!! Hot springs occur when water, beginning as rainfall, seeps through the earths crust and is heated by contact with hot rocks. A geyser erupts when an underground...

Feb 25, 2013 - Rotorua, New Zealand

Yesterday, we breakfasted in Tauranga and then off to Rotorua. Along the way, we stopped at the Hamurana Springs Reserve and hiked through a redwood forest. There are natural spring fed creeks with the whitest sand and clearest water II have never seen. One of the springs we could see into was about 50 feet deep. On the wooden platform next to it there were gouges in the railing made by ropes people tied off to lower themselves into the spring. Next we were off to view a couple of Habitat houses in Rotorua. One was finished and occupied....

Feb 21, 2013 - Fly to Rotorua and drive to Auckland

This is our last flight on tour. It was a Two hour flight from Queenstown to Rotorua. We are now on the north island of New Zealand - land of volcanos and geysers with many that are active. We took a side trip to Te Puia Maori Cultural Center. The Maori are the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand. They originated with settlers from eastern Polynesia, who arrived in New Zealand in several waves of canoe voyages at some time between 1250 and 1300. There are an estimated 620,000 Māori in New Zealand, making up roughly 15% of the...

Feb 17, 2013 - Tairua to Rotorua

Today's drive took us from the Coromandel Peninsula to Rotorua, a hot springs resort in a volcanic area. Here's a map of the route.
View NZ 2013, Feb 17 in a larger map But the highlight was a detour we took to MataMata, the home of Hobbiton of...

Jan 26, 2013 - Rotorua day 2

Well we awoke again this morning to the lovely smell of Rotorua (and wondered how much longer do we have here again?) We made our way to another geothermal area close by to town... Because that is apparently the thing to do here. On our way we came across a deer-like species with huge antlers.. so of course Clint had to stop for a picture and to watch them for awhile. We weren't exactly sure what they were, so Clint made me do my elk bugle to see if they came running. Well i am a bit out of practice! but they all did stop what they were...

Jan 25, 2013 - Rotoura

Today we were up early and back in ol' reliable to make our way east to north central New Zealand. We arrived at out hostel, the Rotorua Geothermal Holiday Park. We checked in then made our way into Rotorua and went to tour the old "living geothermal village", the villages actual name is around 20 syllables long so we won't ever try to attempt putting it on here. This village was quite interesting as they do their best to keep the heritage of their ancestors going by using the geothermal pools in the area to survive off of. These pools...

Jan 14, 2013 - Rotorua

After Auckland we went to Rotorua and spend a couple days there. It's in the middle of the North Island of New Zealand and a very smelly place. The city is known for its geothermal activity and hot mud pools. This thermal activity is sourced to the Rotorua caldera, on which the city lies. Rotorua has the nickname Sulphur City, because of the hydrogen sulphide emissions, which gives the city a “rotten eggs” smell. Anyway occasionally you had to hold your nose, but all in all it is a very fascinating area. My favorite area was the Wai-O-Tapu...

Jan 4, 2013 - Rotorua

January 03 Hooray my Travelex card is working at last!!! Although I am missing my bike riding we are getting plenty of exercise. Yesterday Maree and I walked at least 5 kilometres in the late afternoon and evening and today we must have done at least as much if not more. On our way to Rotorua we passed through Te Puke which advertises itself as the "Kiwi Fruit Capital of the World". Maree looked around as we passed through the town for anything that looked like an information centre about Kiwi fruit but we saw nothing. There were, however,...

Oct 23, 2012 - doing the tourist thaaaannnnggg!

Another early start to our day today!!! WHEN am I ever going to be able to sleep in!!!!!!!!!!! Laura was off on a 4 day excursion into the mountains and the rest of us decided to take a day trip to Rotorua and the Waitomo Caves. It was about a 3 hour drive each way so off we headed first thing. Once you get out of the city the topography of New Zealand is similar to France - green rolling pastures, one after the other after the other............. Very green, very gentle, very many cows and not quite so many sheep. It was soothing almost...

Sep 24, 2012 - Rotorua!

Kia Ora mates! So.. I am sure you all have been wondering what I have been doing with my life recently. Yeah? No? Well.. either way, I am going to tell you! I went to Rotorua this weekend! Rotorua is a small touristy town northeast of Palmy that is built on sulfur hot springs. Just in case you were wondering.. Anyways.. Our bus left at a lovely portion of the night, 10:35 pm on Friday. We got on the bus… expecting to sleep through to Rotorua…. WRONG. At least for me… I barely slept. Hmph. The bus was cold and shakey and not ideal for...

Jun 23, 2012 - Rotorua day 2

The day began early as we headed out to the Wai-o-tapu volcanic craters just outside Rotorua. We were up early, buffet breakfast-ed (which the boys loved!) and on the mystery van by 8.45am. We were delighted with so many various colours and odours associated with the craters, thermal mud pools and Geisers that personifies this area of NZ. The lady Knox Geiser erupted for us at 10.15am and the kids were impressed by the height of the eruption, the force and geo-thermal reasons for her explosive behavior. I thought Gemma Casey was going to...

Jun 22, 2012 - Rotorua day 1

Off to Rotorua! Dave (AKA Shaggy) was the captain of the mystery van this morning, with John (self proclaimed Fred) riding shotgun, assisting with directions. The two men were a great team, getting us out of Auckland central without drama. Rolling fields of green littered with cows enlightened our eyes and in 3 hours we had made it to the Waitomo caves, to visit the glowworms. This was a nice surprise for me, as I must say my expectations were not that high. I loved it! The caves were quite spectacular in themselves and the glowworms...