Blogs from Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 6

Zjutraj sva se s plaže Waihi zgodaj odpravila proti Rotorui, po mnenju številnih glavni turistični destinaciji na Novi Zelandiji. Nova Zelandija leži nad številnimi vročimi točkami, ki jih je mogoče na površju videti v obliki izvirov vroče vode in gejzirjev. Rotorua leži na termalno zelo aktivnem območju, zato brez ogleda gejzirjev in bazenčkov vrelega blata seveda ni šlo. Izmed številnih termalnih območij sva izbrala Whakarewarewo, ki je najbližje središču Rotorue, poleg gejzirjev in vrelega blata pa zajema tudi prikaz maorske kulture in nočno ogrado s kiviji - pticami seveda. Najprej sva zavila h kivijem. Ker so kiviji nočne živali, je njihova ograda čez dan v temi,* da je mogoče videti (kolikor se to sploh da v skoraj popolni temi), kako tekajo sem in tja. Odrasli kiviji so veliki kot kokoši in imajo glede na telo zelo ... read more

After reading how annoyed Intercity bus drivers get if you're not at the stop 15 minutes before the bus is due to depart, I made it a super efficient 25 minutes early and still wasn't the first. Stan our driver looks pretty ancient. I think it's the knee length socks setting off his wrinkly knees that gives this away. But he doesn't look that scary so when a couple of lads roll up 2 minutes before we're due to set off I'm not surprised that they escape with a bit of a whinge rather than a full blown rant. As we start to make our way out of Auckland I notice how many prefab style buildings there are, most with wooden shuttering and some with corrugated iron roofs. They actually seem quite cute and homey and ... read more

Rotorua youth hostel is peachy. I'm in a four bed female only room and no bunks! The reception staff are lovely and put a map in my hand and give me directions to the nearest supermarket. It's a bit of a Lidl moment at the Rotorua Pak 'n Save, but I manage to find enough veggie delights. Chores sorted I decide to start off my holiday activities with some inactivity at the Polynesian Spa. I opt for the slightly salacious sounding 'adults only' section. Fortunately, or unfortunately (depending on your proclivities) this just means no screaming kids jumping in the pools and splashing everyone rather than some car key swapping scenario. The pools are built on an historic Maori site The Pupunitanga, which means ambush, to remember the many battles fought here. Years later in 1882 ... read more

Our next place to visit on North Island was Rotorua. We left Napier on a cool but bright day and journeyed through lots of agricultural land, mainly growing fruit (apricots, nectarines, peaches, plums and grapes). There were far fewer campervans on the roads and we saw our first deer on this island on this leg of the trip - maybe there were more vegetarians in this neck of the woods? There were many more really pretty churches though and the landscape was gently undulating with hills rather than mountains, all seemingly covered with trees, trees, there were so many trees and, consequently, so many log lorries. We stopped for a comfort break in Taupo where scalding hot water from the underground activity trickled into the lake and attracted many wildfowl to the warmer waters, including the ... read more

So after an evening out at whale bay (beautiful location – just a pitty we ran into reggae night with a DJ who liked to go into the meaning of each song he was about to play – just play the song already!!) we had another early morning and rushed out to Rotarua for White Water rafting! Yay!! Em was shaking with nerves as it was her first time but we donned another flattering wetsuit and booties and were ready to hit the water. The group going with us were running late so we got to hit the water with just our boat – Mary and I were up the front and Jack our guide enjoyed splashing us with as many waves and waterfalls he could aim at us! Because we were waiting for the other ... read more