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Published: November 9th 2007
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After another early start we headed for Rotorua. On the way we stopped in (cant remember name) for a walk through some old gold mines! There were parts where it was pitch black and you couldn't see a thing. It was good fun though and when you got to the other side there were some great views of the valley bellow.
After that we made a quick stop in Matamata (aka hobbiton!) where the filmed the shire for the Lord of the Rings films! We were thinking about going on the Hobbiton tour but all that's actually left is the front of one of the buildings from the Shire set and it doesn't even have the full decoration, so decided against that one!
We got to Rotorua at about 3:30 and it was pouring with rain. We had booked to go luging and nearly cancelled but decided to see how wet it was... It was wet! But we still had a great time. If you have never experienced luging it is basically like Go-Karting down the side of a very big hill going very, very fast. You had to get a Gondella or chair lift up and this was
the worst part! Kim only went down the scenic route but Joe being Joe decided to try them all! We were absolutely soaked by the end!
That evening we went to a traditional Maori village for a show and dinner. It was so much fun. The bus driver greeted us in 58 languages! We had to choose a chief from the bus to go forward and lead us. No one wanted this task and in the end a guy called Darren put his hand up. He had to start at the front during the greeting where the Maori warriers did dances and chants to see if we came in peace (we did). They then put down a gift and the chief had to pick up the gifts to show that we were peaceful. They have a re-created Maori village where you're told lots of things about the culture and the old Maori way of life. There were also random Maori warriors running around the place screaming and frightening the Japenese tourists. All very cool, and we got a nice gruesome explanation of how they used to be tattooed with various implements. Apparently alot of them died due to blood
yes it was dark!
in the gold mines loss but it was a very honourable way to die! And probably quite painful....
For the meal there was a traditional Hangi, which is basically a food cooked in a pit in the ground. A huge hole is dug, they heat some rocks and put them in the bottom, then layer the meat, followed by veg all wrapped up in separate parts. Being veggie we didn't have the meat but we did get an amazing veggie alternative dinner which is probably the best meal we've had since we were away, AND we still got to eat a load of veggies and stuffing from the Hangi. We were full. Definatly worth it. Mmmmmm food....
I'm not quite sure why but the Kiwi's call Rotorua "Rotovegas". I don't know why as its nothing like Las Vegas, and in fact not really what I would call a city, its more like an average sized UK town! We had a cheap day on Monday. Did the fun task of Laundry (clean clothes woo hoo!), walked around the town and hung out at the hostel. And what else is there to do on a Monday evening other than go to the bar and
play pool. We've made some Canadian friends and I'm pleased to say England won the England vs Canada pool game. And we do this every Monday but as you guys in the UK are 13 hours behind us, its always good to think while we're sat drinking in a bar, you're all getting up to go to work. It's a nice thought to go to bed with I can assure you!!
We went to Thermal Wonderland! Rotorua sits right between 2 tectonic plates and so the crust here is really thin. There are all sorts of steam vents around the place that heats the pool here at the hostel and we saw the Lady Knox Geyser erupting. Around the park is all sorts of geothermal lakes, bubbling mud pools, waterfalls etc. The pools are all different colours depending on the chemical content of the water. It's a wierd landscape and definately worth a visit. (Check the photos!)
On our way out of Rotorua we stopped at Tui Puia, we didn't go into the thermal park as we visited the one the day before. So instead we thought we were going to a Maori cultural show.... Little did we
know we would be performing traditional Maori dances! The girls from the group did Poi dancing and the guys learnt the same Haka that the All Blacks do before their games. We then had to perform them to each other. It was really good fun, Kim even bought some poi afterwards (and an instruction leaflet....), and Joe can dance like a bad ass Maori warrior!
The next stop on the bus was Waitomo. We were booked in for the Black Water Rafting but weren't able to do it until the following morning! So we spent the afternoon chilling out in the peaceful surroundings! That night we went on a night hike with a few of the group through the woods and into a cave. Waitomo is famous for its Glow Worms! They aren't actually worms, they're maggots... but Glow Worms sounds alot nicer than Glow Maggots! They are like little glowing LED Christmas lights in the caves and on the rock walls. As well as the Glow Worms we encountered a giant spider or 2!
The next morning it was up and to the caves for our rafting trip. We donned our wet suits (very sexy) and headed
Maori greeting
with bonus fire to the cave. Kerry if you are reading this, YES, Kim went in a cave! You don't actually go in a raft, but you climb through the caves with a rubber ring which you occasionally use to float along! After a brief safety talk we had to take it in turns to jump into the river and climb out again. This layer of water helps to warm you up in the wet suit but it was still absolutely freezing! You have to jump in backwards with your bum in the tube, all very commical to watch and very cold and wet to do!
We clambered into the cave, and if we thought the water in the river was cold, well the water in the cave was colder still! It was really narrow at the beginning and Kim freaked out a little, but the instructors were very helpful and even gave us a snack half way through! We were down in the caves for about an hour, climing, floating, jumping off waterfalls before heading to the surface for a warm shower! This was followed by hot soup and bagels!
Next stop Taupo!
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lynsey
non-member comment
you know....
We're going to want to see some of that dancing when you get back! Looks like you're having a fabidocious time. xxxxx