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Published: March 5th 2007
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Updated 19 MAR 07 We got up late-ish and went out for breakfast at Freo’s Café on Tutanekai Street near to our Novotel. Wendy had the Big Vegie breakfast with bacon, while I had the Big (meat) Breakfast with mushrooms (and yes, we do see the irony).
The one I had, must have been for meat lovers for it included a small sirloin steak, streaky bacon, Italian sausage and 2 fried eggs. The food was delicious and the service was excellent.
Prior to leaving Oz we got a 5-Star Attraction pass which allowed entry into 5 great attraction venues in and around Rotorua. This is one of the BEST things we could have done for our trip while still in Oz. This is what we did in the following order:
We drove past the Polynesian Spa (one of the 5, just to see where it was) to Sulphur Bay on the lake. Phee-ew! This must be the smelliest place in Rotorua and that’s saying something. Took a few pix there.
Then we headed off to our first stop of the 5 Attractiona, the Te Puia Thermal Springs and Maori Village. Here we saw the iconic Kiwi in a nocturnal inclosure (this in itself made it worthwhile for me, Wendy, they are awesome birds), mud pools, steaming streams, sulphuric smoking rocks, and erupting geyser. This was pretty cool and all set in idyllic native vegetation and a natural stream course.
We then moved on to the Polynesian Spa (our second stop of the 5 Attractions). Four of the pools were open (the rest were closed due to being renovated) and they varied in ph level and temperature from 38, 39, 41 and 42 degrees C. We did them in coolest to hottest order. And I (Wendy) found the hottest just too hot for me. The icy cold shower wasn’t exactly fun but I guess necessary. This was such a relaxing experience. Relaxing in streaming water, whilst looking out at the lake, was equal to, if not, better than a two hour massage.
BTW, if you want to take up the option of a massage or mud wrap or something like that at the Spa’s Retreat, you need to book at least a few days ahead as they fill up fast. We didn’t know this. But that’s ok, we really have had an awesome day. Sorry that’s my new favourite word. Only thing missing was pool side bar service.
Then on we went to the Paradise Valley Springs Wildlife Park (the third of the 5 attractions). This was such an unexpected gem. I thought it would be a few birds in an enclosure with a pond of trout off to the side and (another) gift shop. It did have a gift shop but it also had lions.
This is Len now typing as Wendy has run off at the thought of these lions. I must admit this enclosure was a tad disconcerting yet extremely safe. Let me paint you the picture. Picture the scene out of Jurassic Park at the T-rex enclosure and that was the feeling. We walked around a track corner, through a one way gate and there in the middle on a small clearing was a 20 ft high electrified fence and a small pride of lions within it, in various degrees of feeding. Wendy just about “kacked her dacks” as we started to walk around the enclosure, as she was sure the fence was not high enough and wasn’t very happy about it. Yet we continued to walk around it. It was an un-nerving experience as you felt like you had just step into the King of the jungle’s domain and you were living on borrowed time. These magnificent beasts were quite close and only separated from you be a small gage cyclone fence albeit electrified. This certainly got your heart racing.
The rest of the park involved a walk along a path through picturesque and well enclosed native vegetation and over bridges from which we threw fish food down at the absolutely massive trout and the ducks. We also walked past deer enclosure and wild pigs and New Zealand mountain goats. In the middle of all this was a bubbling spring whose water (apparently) is said to provide good health. We bought two bottles and it did taste good and different from the normal stuff. We eventually came to an open bit with merino sheep, goats, alpacas and even an emu.
Then Skyline Skyrides gondola, luge and restaurant (the Fourth of the Attractions)
Gondola ride wasn’t too bad for some-one like me, who doesn’t like heights (Len). The fun up at the top was well worth the Skyride gondola trip.
Luge, Len went down 3 times. Beginner, Advanced, then Intermediate. This was a lot of fun and well worth the cost of a ticket. I suggest you do at least 3 or 4 rides for the economy of fee to fun and there is a chair lift at the bottom that brings you and you luge buggy back up to the top. The chair lift takes a while wo get you back to the top but is beats walking up easily. This luge would be heaps of fun for a small group of up to four. any more than that and there would probably be too many chance for accidents on the luge. And remember DONT drink and luge
Restaurant dinning here is a must do at dusk. Remember you need to book, but it is well worth it. It was $40.00 per head for a buffet style meal which includes a whole baia-mare island of cold sea food (crab, mussels (marinaded and smoked), baby octopus, prawns, trout, salmon (smoked and sushi), Oysters, various seafood salads and scallops. This is not to mention there is also a carvery to die for. Save room for the desserts, trust me. We actually didn’t have lunch so we where well prepared.
The last of the 5 Attractions was the Agrodome. We decided not to go to this as we had enough fun for one day. (Ya think!) Apparently this was attraction was all about Sheep breeds, shearing and farming. That's ok we saw an old wild Marino Ram at the Native Wild life park which followed us around a bit cause I, Wendy, scratched the back of his neck. (Lanalin does come from sheep BTW.) Every one likes a good massage I guess.
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