Theres loads of lakes around Rotorua and i pretty much spent the morning going from one to the other. Blue Lake, a 5km walk around Green Lake, and then finally onto Lake Tarawera where i met some very friendly black swans and a white duck. Im feeling pretty laked out now. Making my way back into town i then stopped off at the historic area of The Buried Village. The violent and unexpected eruption of Mount Tarawera on June 10th 1886 was New Zealands greatest natural disaster. For more than 4 hours rocks, mud and ash bombarded the village of Te Wairoa in which 150 people were killed, and the 8th wonder of the world, the magnificent Pink And White Terraces were destroyed. Te Wairoa, the staging post for people visiting the terrices was left under 2 metres of thick volcanic material. For years the village was left buried until in 1931 the Smith family started excavations which have continued for 3 generations. The result today is a tourist attraction with a museam, gift shop, tea rooms, and a 2km long walk around the excavated archaelogical sights. Basically i found out more than i needed to know about it from walking in and chatting to the girl behind the counter, and looking at the pictures on the wall. So im not feeling the need to part with 20 dollars to walk around the museam and walkway looking at holes in the floor which used to be buildings. From there i then drove through town and out to the Zorbing place. For those of you who have never heard of it, basically you get inside a giant inflatable ball and then roll head over arris down a hill. Its another one of the things that Hanzie boy and me were going to do but its not going to be the same on my own. With that said though im certainly not going to be losing any sleep over not doing it, its a lot different to what i was expecting. If anyones ever seen the Jackie Chan film Operation Condor then you'l have an idea as to what i was expecting, that would be so cool. Instead though its not like that at all, its basically just a hill which is 150m long top to bottom and supposedly 50m high, which would make it a 1 in 3. I would like to get a tape measure on it though, i could be wrong but it certainly doesent look 50m high. Im not even sure now that if Hans was here we would have done it anyway. From looking at it now the only reason i would do it is because its different, you cant do it at home, and if i was with Hans it would be a good laugh. Everyone here is saying how good it is but im really not feeling the need to do it, especially at 45 dollars for what works out to be less than a 10 second ride. Like i said, i wont be losing any sleep over it. The drive back into town and after going the wrong way i accidently came accross the Kuirau Park, lots of steam rising from it so it looks kind of cool. The geothermal activity within the park is the result of localised volcanic activity which took place in 2001. Nobody was injured in the 15 minute errruption but it sent mud and debris 200m into the air. A walk around the park and theres a lot of fenced off areas surrounding bubbling mud pools, and hot water pools. A lot of steam and some very strange smells too. A bit of chill time and then it was time to get picked up for my evening at the Mitai Maori village. A lot more touristy than i was expecting but then anything like this would be, other than that though it was really good. A natural forest setting, and a traditional evening meal which was cooked in a Hangi (in the ground over heated rocks) it was really nice, and the first bit of meat iv eaten in ages. I was stuffed. The night also included traditional cultural performances with the use of Poi dance and music which was awesome. Along with learning a bit about the tattoo art, we were also shown weapons that used to be used, along with displays of combat and training exercises. Then on the after dinner walk around the village we learnt about different types of ways in which various trees and ferns were used by the Maori for building, tool making, medicines, weapons, and clothing etc. The ride back into town and im plotting up for the night in the same place as last night.
No real plans for today, just hanging out and taking it easy until my tattoo consultation at 2.30 this afternoon. When i booked last nights Maori evening with the Information Centre i got a choice of 3 resorts whereby i get free entry, and so thats where im off to now. The Hells Gate Geothermal Park, the most active geothermal field in the Rotorua and Taupo area. The special muds and and sulphurous waters of the area have been treasured by the local Maori for over 800 years, and is renowned as a place of healing and revitalising. Today at the entrance of the Hells Gate geothermal field is the small mud bath and spa resort of Waiora spa, however beyond that the 50 acre geothermal field has been left in its natural state. All my free entry voucher allows me to do is walk around the geothermal field, if i want a mud bath (which i dont) then thats extra. An interesting walk but after The Craters Of The Moon in Taupo and the Kuirau park yesterday its pretty much just the same, just on a bigger scale, and the walk itself is a lot more informative. Lots more steam, bubbling mud holes, boiling water holes, hot lakes, and the Kakahi Falls which is the biggest hot water fall in the Southern Hemispere. The water holes and lakes range in temparatures from 38 degrees to the hottest which is 122 degrees on the surface and 145 1m below. The mud holes are 120 degrees, and the Hells Gate field is also home to the only mud volcano in a geothermal field in New Zealand. The cooking pool which the local Maori used to cook in is a constant 98 degrees all year round, and due to the natural water softening chemicals in the pool it can cook an adult pig to perfection within 2 hours. Although smelling of sulfur and containing black water there is no tainting to the food which is cooked. Sounds yummy a. Whilst there i also got chatting to a really nice Maori who is the on site wood carver, he even let me have a little go which was nice of him. A bit of lunch at the side of Lake Rotorua and then it was off to the tatooist, after which i had my second haircut since leaving home. A bit of internet action and then it was time to drive out of town and plot up for the night. |
