20th January 2008

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20th January 2008
Today we got up early and arrived at Te Puia, New Zealands Maori Arts and crafts centre in the Te Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley. Our aim was to get ahead of the coach parties, as this is possibly New Zealands most popular visitor attraction. We arrived as soon as it opened at 8am in the morning and it paid off as we had the place to ourselves for the first hour or so. This meant we could visit the Kiwi house by ourselves just as the kiwis were waking up and searching for their breakfast in the leaf litter of their cage. It is sad they have to be seen in cages but they are struggling to survive in the wild as introduced predators like weasels stoats, and even possums are destroying their eggs and the adults. There is a big conservation effort to preserve them in wild. They are delightful little birds whose feathers really look like fur. This was the high light of the day if not the holiday so far. A postcard of a kiwi will be on the way ,Will and Hannah!
The main Pohutu geyser in a full blow throws steaming water up to 30 metres high and is an incredible sight. One of the other geysers is named the Prince of Wales feathers and Dinah had her photo taken as it steamed up behind her.. Walking around this area there is steam and mud bubling from the ground over a large area and it sounds like a witches cooking convention with gurgling and bubbling and slurping noises everywhere. The whole area has a sulphorous smell which, surprisingly, you get used to after some time in the area.
Next stop was a welcoming ceromony at the Mori Morae. The Haka was impressive and scary but the singing and welcome inside the Morae was very enjoyable. Afterwards we went to see the carving and weaving which was impressive, I wished I could bring a carving home for the wall! So now all that's left to do today is to choose a resturant for supper and its my turn so we are going Italian. Hope it lives up to the standard as the Japanese was so good last night (Sushi ansd sushimi!!! Hope you are impressed Neal and Tom- adventurous or what! beats salmon fishcakes into a cocked hat!!!!!).
The weather has been mainly overcast today but the temperature has remained in the mid twenties.

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Comments

[Neal]

Geysers
Nice to see the old geezer next to the geyser! How many different ways can you find to spell Maori? Keep up the good work as we are really enjoying watching your progress through Kiwiland.

[amy]

where are the Kiwis?
I want to see a picture of a kiwi too! can you send me one? and i promise i will never eat another kiwi again, and your right about the fur gets in your teeth anway!! The haka looked impresive, i hope you have remembered how it goes as i want dad to give us a rendition of it when he gets home. Keep up the photos and blogs its all great and so cool to see what you are up to.