Trip with Mom & Dad: Day 8 (part 1) - Rotorua

January 3, 2014

Today we started the day off in Rotorua. We had a really nice room last night - a 2 bedroom apartment, so we all got a good night's sleep and felt well-rested for the day's activities.  The first scheduled activity on our agenda for the day was Whakarewarewa village, a Maori village built on thermal ground. But we had an hour or so between the time we checked out of our room before we could go to the village, so we made a little stop at Kuirau Park.

Rotorua is located on a volcanic plateau, which results in several geothermal hotspots throughout the town.  Geysers, hot mud pools and steaming craters can be found in several places, including Kuirau Park. Here is a little more history about the park (if you can read it haha). Or you can learn a little more about Rotorua here: http://www.rotorua.nz.com/

I found it incredible that there are just a few fences put up to keep people out of the mud pools and is otherwise self-policed. You'd have to think some idiot out there would hop the fence and try to touch it, right? Luckily, we are not those idiots.

Mom & Dad in front of a steaming mud pot. Yummy

These mud pots were smelly! And there were a surprisingly large number of them. The mud pools were interesting to see, but they aren't as colorful as the the pools at Yellowstone.

Brian and I got a kick out of this sign at the park

After we wrapped up at the park, we headed up to Whakarewarewa, a geothermal Maori village for a little local culture. First, my favorite part of the day was the Maori cultural performance. We were treated to songs, dancing (including with poi) and the haka.

Poi dancing.  Also, look at this guy's leg muscles - crazy!

Performing the Haka

Mom & I decided to join in on the fun and learned a dance with the poi ball.

I'm concentrating!!!

Mom & Dad with some of the performers

After the cultural performance we walked up to see Pohutu Geyser, which can be seen from within the village. How amazing to have this amazing landscape and wonders right in your back yard!

Mom & Dad at Pohutu Geyser 

Here is a better view of the geyser. 

Before leaving the village, we also stopped at two other important locations within the village. The first was called Whare Tipuna, or the ancestral meetinghouse. The house was named after the village's great ancestor, Wahiao. The carvings on the building tell the history and legends of the people. Pretty amazing!

The last spot we stopped at was another mud pool, but this is the largest and most renowned mud pool in the village. They claim it has been known to heal arthritis, rheumatism and gives your skin a younger appearance.  The temperature of the mud is between 80-90 Celsius (or 176 to 194 fahrenhei). Now that is hot.

Yeah! I caught some of the bubbles in action so you know it's piping hot!

Last but not least, I can't fail to mention Brian's favorite part of our visit to Whakarewarewa village. As we were leaving, some of the Maori children living in the village were playing in the river below the bridge you take to exit the village. They were calling out to passersby to throw in coins for them to dive and fish out of the river. Of course Brian asked me to empty my pockets and threw the few coins I had to them. He had such fun talking to them as he tossed the coins into the river that he went and got some more change from the ticketing office.  He was so happy after playing with the kids and talking to them. I wish I would have taken a picture!  What a cutie pie.

Before leaving Rotorua altogether and heading for our next activity, we stopped at Lake Rotorua for a couple of pictures. This lake is the second largest on the north island after Lake Taupo and was formed from a large volcano crater in the Taupo Volcanic Zone.  Not to worry - the last eruption from this volcano was about 240,000 years ago.

Too bad I closed my eyes for this one. Oh well...look - more black swans!

With our continued fascination of animal and plant life on this trip, Mom & I thought these birds sitting in this dead tree were very interesting. It felt very Edgar Allan Poe-ish.

And that's it for Rotorua!