New Zealand - Rotorua to Gisborne - 5 January 2010

We drove from Rotorua to Gisborne. We stopped at rested at a number of lakes, especially, Lake Rotoiti.

Our next stop was the start of the East Cape beaches of Ohope and Opotiki. The beaches were long and white sanded with dramatic headlands. We swam and wandered around the beaches.

We turned inland and drove through the Waioeka Gorge following the Waioeka River. It was quite spectacular in parts with the road winding its way pass huge hills and down drops to the river below.

New Zealand - Rotorua - Te Puia/Te Po - 4 January 2010

In the afternoon, we went to Te Puia and Te Po. This is a thermal area with huge geysers.

They erupted when we arrived putting on an amazing display.



We went on a guided tour. Our Maori host, Sandra, explained and showed us many things about the thermal area, the Maori village, flora and her culture.

Later, we were greeted at the marae by a Maori warrior. Inside, we saw an excellent show of various Maori dances, songs and games. Their voices were very powerful and pleasant.

A huge hongi meal followed and after that we went back to the thermal area to watch the geysers erupt just on dust. Our host sang the Maori Farewell with sincere feeling at the end of the visit. Very nice! A very good experience!

New Zealand - Rotorua - Zorb - 4 January 2010

The morning session was out to the Zorb. The day was windy and a little cold so there weren't many people there.

At the bottom of the hill, a car drives you to the top to the start of the ride. At the top, there is a large plastic ball that you sit inside and then roll down the hill within. They pour some water into the ball (makes the sliding easier) then you have to slide and wriggle into the ball through the narrow opening. The opening is then sealed up and they give you a push and away you go down the hill – slipping and a sliding. Great fun!! There are two tracks - the straight and the zigzag.

The Zorbit wasn’t operating due to strong winds. In this ride you are strapped into a seat so that you rotate with the ball as it plummets down the hill.

New Zealand - Rotorua - Government Gardens - 3 January 2010

We spent the later part of the afternoon sitting in the bathhouse cafe drinking coffee and admiring the scenery.

The building is an old bathhouse and is very impressive. It is now a museum and cafe.



The gardens are neat and well arranged. We watched people playing croquet.

New Zealand - Rotorua - Blue Lake/Lake Tikitapu - 3 January 2010

In the afternoon, we drove to the Blue Lake/Lake Tikitapu. There were many families there swimming in the lake and lazing on the beach.

The walk around the lake was excellent. The track circumnavigated up and down and around the lake through lush vegetation of ferns and tall trees. Full views and glimpses of the lake could be seen along the trek.

A swim in the lake at the end of the walk was brisk and refreshing.

New Zealand - Rotorua - Skyline - Luge and Skyswing - 3 January 2010

Skyline was our first activity in Rotorua. We caught a chairlift to the top and rode the luge. The luge is a type of go-cart that you can steer and brake down a pathway. The speed that they could reach was pretty exciting, especially on the corners. We saw a few people slide off the track and into the dirt. At the bottom of the ride, there were chairlifts back to the top.

Still in skyline, we went on the skyswing. The three of us were strapped into a large ball and pulled up to a 180 degree angle. At this stage, you are looking directing at the ground. Then we were released (you control the release cord) to go plummeting towards the ground and swinging out over the mountain into the open sky. Of course, thoughts of seatbelts coming undone and the ball flying off its restraints into the wild blue yonder were all part of the excitement.

 
 

New Zealand - Rotorua - Hotwater Beach - 2 to 5 January 2010

We picked up our camper van near the airport and drove to Rotorua.

 

We stayed at the Cosy Cottage Camping area. It was small and pleasant as well as being close to the shore of Lake Rotorua.

We walked a short track through the thermals and bush to a small beach that lined the shore of Lake Rotorua. The beach had pools of bubbling hot water, after one did a little sand digging. The lake water was needed in the pool to cool the water down to a pleasant temperature.

 

It was a nice place to relax after or before the day's activities.