Rotorua, the second visit

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Rotorua
April 25th 2006

Published: May 5th 2006

The first time we went to Rotorua it was my birthday, Jan 26th. We only saw the museum as there was so much to look at. The next time we were in Rotorua we stayed for three days as soon as we finished our week in Napier. We saw many of the features I had been hearing about for a long time. There is no escaping the touristy look and feel of the place, and we couldn't miss seeing some of the fanta... Read Full Entry

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A.L. Carney

alcarney

I am doing a few weeks of voluntary work at an environmental learning centre in Central America. For gardening and teaching some local women some felting and other textile crafts, and to update the centre's website. It is a very interesting place, and the programmes are quite impressive. There are 8 volunteers here I think, two of us are twenty nine, and the rest are in their early to mid 20s. The website does better justice to the huge undertaking this has been: http://www.learningcentercostarica.org/ This is from 4 years ago My 25 year old daughter Erin and I are leaving fo... full info

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Te Puia. This woman demostrates the art

of making the woven flax loincloths worn by warriors.

Not sure if this was intended as a collection

but it's placed by the door and some tourists obviously thought so.

Te Puia. Beside the Carving School

there is a museum with many examples of the amazing carvings the Maori were able to accomplish using simple tools made of sharpened shells, filed greenstone and rock.

The symmetry and detail blow me away

Alot of this mentioning of prowess

or skill? Or, more likely, just a dominance thing. You know, testosterone side effect.

One of the most ornate carvings

were in an unexpected place. In the form of wall friezes.

Doing our fellow tourists a favour

outside the Hells Gate pool. It has no visible inlet or outlet and is in constant motion from the up rising gases. Named by George Bernard Shaw in early 1900s

Hope you can read the sign!!

If not, it threatens to send throwers of litter in after it to retrieve it. In these Hot Lakes, the water temp is over 90 degrees and in Feb/March the gases cook flying insects, presenting a cooked meal to hawks waiting on the shores.

Mud Volcano

Currently about 2.4 metres in height and growing.Instead of lavea, the mud volcano regularly discharges mud lahars or ejects mud similar to lavea bombs. Every 6 weeks the top,dried mud layer erupts over a 5 metre wide diameter, usually at night.

Spontaneous Combustion

occurs when deposited sulphur reaches approx. 120 degrees C from gournd and sun heat, ignites, then burns at 380 degrees causing silica rocks to melt and flow like lava.

Kakahi Falls

The largest hot water fall in the Southern Hemisphere, its 40 degrees C, like a hot shower. Where Maori soldiers bathed themselves from the blood of battle. Full name: O Te Mimi O Te Kakahi which is The Urine of Kahahi, (a noted warrior).

The walking paths have to be

maintained because of erosion in this very unstable environment. Chemicals stain the gravel brilliant colours.

Devils Cauldron

This black mud has a temperature of 120 degrees C, always creating circle and plopping patterns as steam is being released. Used in treatment of atrhritis.

The Silver Fern

is the NZ national emblem. The branches and underside are silver-green. For Maori the silver fern has always represented Going For A Goal. I think it's the soccer team that is the Silver Ferns, but could be rugby. I don't watch.