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Published: February 4th 2008
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I spent most of the time I had in Taupo around the lake swimming or reading. I also had a go at the Lake Taupo hole-in-one golf challenge. You have to get a hole in one from about 150 yards. Your target is a small floating island with 3 holes on. I tried 18 times with a trusty five iron but unsurprisingly did not even hit the island once.
On the last evening in Taupo I went to Wairakei terraces, which is a small geothermal area and Maori village. As a group we went to the entrance of the village where we were greeted by a Maori warrior who then gives the group a peace offering. Our elected group leader then has to take the offering and lead the group while following the warrior. We then came to a building with a totem pole and the Maori tribes people put on a welcome dance and song. We then had to do the traditional Maori greeting with the tribespeople, which is where you touch forehead and nose together twice. I think it needs practice as some of my greetings may have been mistaken as headbutts. We then walked through the small
geothermal area containing a small hot spring and some terraces, which have boiling water at the top and then the water gets cooler as it goes down the steps of the terrace. All these geothermal attractions were man made by the energy company next door to the village. The energy company agreed to do this as their arrival in the 1950's caused the natural terraces and pools to disappear from the area. We then walked past a few Maori huts where we saw the Maori playing, carving, weaving etc. We then went to a big dining room where we were to have an earth cooked meal and a Maori concert. The meal was really nice and tasted like a flame grilled roast dinner. After our meal the tribespeople came into the hall and performed a few songs and dances. Their facial expressions are brilliant, big eyes, tongues out, beaming smiles, they have it all. They then did the Haka, which was what I was waiting to see. After seeing it up close, it amazes me that any rugby team playing the All Blacks don't need to change their shorts before the match. It is such a powerful, intense and fierce
display. After it was done properley a few of the audience were to be picked to try and do it. As the biggest and probably youngest bloke there I think my fate was guaranteed. I went up and feebily attempted to mimic what they were doing. I made a complete idiot of myself but it was a good laugh.
I left Taupo in the morning and it only took one hour to get to Rotorua. As soon as I arrived I headed straight to the information centre to book a Zorb and a visit to the geothermal area of Waiotapu. These were the two things I really wanted to do here and I only had one night in Rotorua and two half days to do them. After booking I went to my hostel got changed then took the shuttle bus straight to the Zorb site. Zorbing is rolling down a hill inside a big inflatable ball and has been a secret life long ambition of mine. I opted for the Zydro which is a wet Zorb. There is two choices of tracks, you can either go straight down or zig zag. After watching a few people do it, zig
zag is definitely the best option. I took the van to the top of the hill then the guide part filled the inner part of the zorb with water. There is a small round hole to get in and it is sealed up once you are inside. The guide told me to step back, run up and superman dive into the Zorb. I happily obliged and just about squeezed through and fell into the water. The guide then told me to stand up and try and run with the ball and stay up as long as possible. The Zorb was released and I was down within five seconds. From there on in you just slip, slide and bounce around as the ball picks up speed down the twisty grass half pipe. Its in no way scary or adrenaline pumping but its really fun and surreal. After my Zorb and a quick shower, I went to the Rotorua museum which was one of the best I've been too. Rotorua has an interesting history with its Maori culture, Volcanoes and other active Geothermal sights. It also had an interesting section on the role of the Maori B-Company in the Second World War.
Today I am heading to Auckland where I will be staying for the rest of my time in New Zealand. Today in the morning I went to Waiotapu thermal wonderland. First we stopped off at a big mud pool which stank like rotten eggs, which is a common smell in Rotorua. The geothermal areas produce Hydrogen Sulphide which has the smell of rotten eggs. Anyway the mud pool reminded me of the Bog of Eternal Stench from the film Labyrinth. The hot pressure from under the mud makes it bubble up. After the mud pool we arrived at Lady Knox geyser. We were told the geyser erupts everyday at 10.15am but it is infact and induced eruption. A guy throws in a block of soap which for some scientific reason I forget (answers on a postcard) makes it erupt. It can go about 20 metres high but I don't think it got near that today. After the geyser we went to Waiotapu thermal wonderland. This is a 3km walk which goes round loads of different geothermal wonders. There are huge craters, small geysers, steaming hot pools, waterfalls, mudpools you name it. It was pretty amazing to see all these
weird and wonderful things. My favourite was a bit called the artist's pallete. There is a huge pool which has loads of different blotches of colour due to the different chemicals. New Zealand seems to hold a lot of nature's anomalies.
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