Nice full day and almost no overlap between our visit to Rotorua a month ago, and now. That’s how much there is to do in New Zealand, even in a small city like Rotorua.
We started the morning in a geologically active area with a guided walk through Waimangu Volcanic Valley. It’s been a tourist area for decades, but now has nice paths and better protection for tourists than years ago. The sights included a boat ride on the lake, which has geothermically active areas near the shore. The volcano on the shore erupted in the 1886, causing loss of life as well as the end to some beautiful pink silica terraces that had formed over millennia. They are now at the bottom of the lake. The trip was calm and peaceful.
Some of the springs are quite colorful, either from algae and extremophile bacteria which are adapted for the heat, or from mineral deposits.
As is the case in many areas of New Zealand, there is an active effort to trap and eradicate mammalian predators. The volcanic valley showed their tally.
Lunch was near the Government Gardens which were still blooming, even though fall is coming on. Plants just grow so well in New Zealand!
Then we were off to Te Puia, the Māori Arts & Crafts school, with another tour of both the school and the geysers. On our first visit, the site had been pretty crowded, but today we had our own guide and many fewer people. My highlight was seeing the way the New Zealand flax is stripped with a large mussel shell to reveal the strands (transport tissues) that can be twisted and woven. The fibers feel as smooth and strong as nylon and were valued for making maritime ropes.
After a short break, we returned to Te Puia for a buffet dinner and a cultural performance. This was our third on this trip, and my favorite. We had front row seats, and I thought the singing, which has similarity to Hawaiian music, was in fine form.
One Response
Wow. Loving your blog Laura. This RS trip seems to really compliment and it seems you are enjoying the overlaps too.