If I sound like a misery guts about the trip so far, I’m afraid I’m guilty. I’ve enjoyed bits of it but it’s just been a lot of very ordinary or crappy travel with some momentary not too crappy bits.
But it all changed in Rotorua, which is incredibly geothermically active and built on top of a supervolcano. Our hotel was right on the lake, opposite the Sulphur Flats, and yes there was a stink, but nothing as bad as I feared and easily ignored (at least for me). Fantastic view:
The sulphur flats:
We had to get up early the next morning to ride in a cable car up to a hilltop restaurant for a champagne breakfast and, for the daring (ie Doug) a ‘luge’ ride. He went twice 🙂
Fantastic views over the lake showing the geothermal steam rising:
It was a really lovely start to the day. Then it was off to the Agrodome to see performing sheep and working dogs. Some of you were so unkind as to disbelieve me on the sheep! I only took stills but trust me, those sheep knew how to play an audience as well as the host. After the 19 breeds of sheep were displayed (with much playacting and messing around from sheep and humans alike) we had a display of shearing, milking, duck herding and sheep riding 🙂
So here are the pics. Believe me or not!:
In the afternoon, we went to Te Puia, which is a combination Maori cultural showcase and geothermal area. They also breed Kiwis! (no photos as photography upsets the little fellas). First a talk on Maori life and culture with yet another charming, knowledgeable Maori guide, and a all too brief chance to look at weaving and wood carving workshops:
Then a trip around the impressive geothermal valley, geysirs, and mudpools:
And finally the ceremonial welcome of our ‘family’ by the local clan, the lifting of the hangi for our inspection (yes, that’s a lot of food!), a concert (and chance for the women to try the poi, while the guys tried the haka), and of course, an enormous, delicious feast:
The guy in the red shirt is this weedy Liverpudlian, very quiet and retiring. I nearly fainted when he went up and threw himself in to the haka with gusto! (Doug of course is in the back making a fool of himself too. No shame 🙂 )
And because Tameiki needs some nice stuff, here’s the only bishie Maori on offer. But he made up for the rest, and then some 🙂
The sheep are so cute. I love the way they sit with their little heads resting on the platforms. I’m glad you had at least this one good day. It looks like fun.
The sheep were *sleeping* on the food bowls 🙂 Even when the dogs were jumping all over them – so not bovvered!