This day was a 9 hour adventure that was led by our tour bus driver named Reg. He took us on an hour long trip from Tauranga harbour along the beautiful beaches (alcohol-free zones) and gorgeous beach homes, past kiwi orchards, to an area called Rotorua.
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| Stature of Maori warrior welcomes us to Tauranga |
Kiwi, the fruit, had a Chinese ancestor and was brought to New Zealand by the Chinese. The fruit as we know it, however, has been genetically engineered to what we now enjoy as kiwi
. Kiwi, the bird, is New Zealand's symbol and national bird, and Kiwi, the man, is a person who lives in New Zealand.
Our first stop was at the Maori cultural center of Te Puia. Our guide here was of Maori descent, and the apprentices here are Maori. They are taught the ancient crafts of carving and weaving. They are very talented, and their art is beautiful and brings high prices.
Our guide at the cultural center then led us to the geyser, hot springs, and mud pools of Rotorua. The geyser is called "Pohutu" It is the largest geyser in the Southern hemisphere. The word "Pohutu" means "constant splashing" in Maori. It can go as high as 90 feet, and it goes off twice per hour! LeRoy and I have never seen the geysers out West, but this was incredible! You could smell the sulfur and feel the heat on the nearby rocks. They are actually hot, and you sure don't want to sit on them! There are bubbling mud pools near by. Our guide grew up in the area, and her family has relaxed in the hot springs all their lives. We later learned that New Zealand is in the process of giving back all the natural treasures of their nation to the Maori for them to run and care for. Pretty amazing, the ancient culture living right along side the modern world, in harmony.
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| Pohutu! |
Also, while here we got to see a black shadow in a dark exhibit room that we were told was a Kiwi bird. They are nocturnal, very shy, and in order to see one, the exhibits have to be dark, and no photography. The females are larger than the males, and the birds have little bitty wings that make them unable to fly.
The next stop was at a hotel nearby where we were treated to a delicious buffet lunch and a traditional Maori show. "Kia Ora" means "hello, welcome". The show was exotic, and at times, angry sounding, and other times beautiful! The Maori used their Haka dance as a way of intimidating their enemies. They would use their fierce stares, painted faces and stick their tongues out defiantly! Sounds like "Game Day" in America! We were overwhelmed by their strength and grace at the same time. Surreal!
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So much cuteness ...
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After this, Reg took us to the Agrodome. We got to see all kinds of sheep, rams, baby alpacas, sheep dogs. It was incredible what a series of whistles could do! The dog was literally running across the backs of the sheep! LeRoy loved all the animals! He was in heaven, smiling all the way through! It is an educational, working farm where people come to learn the ways of farming, sheep shearing and caring for animals. Today, the sheep business in NZ is not about the wool, but the meat. Mutton and lamb are now served only for special occasions like birthdays and Christmas because it is very expensive here.
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| Looks like Smokey at the top, doesn't it?! |
Our final stop was at a place called Trout Springs. This is a beautiful natural park that has all kinds of flora and a little fauna. We saw Sequoia trees, yes, from California. We've never seen them before! There are all kinds of trout here, too; several species from North America. We were also treated to another kiwi sighting. This time, we saw the kiwi bird.
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| Taxidermy of Kiwi bird |
After a very full day, Reg took us back to the dock on the bus, playing a local Maori band cd that was so peaceful and soothing. The last song I remember hearing was "How Great Thou Art" .... yes, God is great indeed, and He is good all the time ....
See you tomorrow in Wellington ...
Vialula and Leroy
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