Rotorua has the most thermal activity in the country and we have seen many bubbling mud pools and gurgling hot springs (and sniffed many 'bad 'egg smells). We even went swimming in one - Kerosene Creek - ideal for backpackers as it was the local creek and was free!
White water
rafting was also on the agenda! This time grade 5 on the Kaituna River taking in the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world! (7 metres - that's about 25 feet - it feels like 250 when you're on the way down)
This picture is taken shortly before the whole raft disappears under a cloud of 'froth'.
These pictures were taken during a Maori concert in a living village called Te Whakarewarewa - try saying that after a couple of pints! (Wh is pronounced 'f' - so it does sound like you are swearing!)
The show comprised of lots of singing, waving of balls! (poi dancing) and lots of actions including tongue waggling and eye bulging! (I pull a lot of these faces without even realising!) Elvis also mastered the art of the hongi with a friendly Maori, which is 'nose to nose' contact to say hello or goodbye!
A free cup of tea to whoever can pick out the 'real' maoris from the next three pictures.
Yes, you got it. These two are the imposters!
You may think who in their right mind would sit in a river with a waterfall rushing over them in Spring - it must be freezing!! Well it would if you were in England, but this river is running over a geo-thermal bed and the water is as hot as your bath - Beeeeeautiful!!
This is the sunset view from another of our camping spots - just lovely!
This is us at the top of Mt Tauhara, nice view eh? The walk was mostly through native bush.
rafting was also on the agenda! This time grade 5 on the Kaituna River taking in the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world! (7 metres - that's about 25 feet - it feels like 250 when you're on the way down)This picture is taken shortly before the whole raft disappears under a cloud of 'froth'.
These pictures were taken during a Maori concert in a living village called Te Whakarewarewa - try saying that after a couple of pints! (Wh is pronounced 'f' - so it does sound like you are swearing!)The show comprised of lots of singing, waving of balls! (poi dancing) and lots of actions including tongue waggling and eye bulging! (I pull a lot of these faces without even realising!) Elvis also mastered the art of the hongi with a friendly Maori, which is 'nose to nose' contact to say hello or goodbye!
A free cup of tea to whoever can pick out the 'real' maoris from the next three pictures.
Yes, you got it. These two are the imposters!
You may think who in their right mind would sit in a river with a waterfall rushing over them in Spring - it must be freezing!! Well it would if you were in England, but this river is running over a geo-thermal bed and the water is as hot as your bath - Beeeeeautiful!!
This is the sunset view from another of our camping spots - just lovely!
This is us at the top of Mt Tauhara, nice view eh? The walk was mostly through native bush.
It was rather windy and Keith felt the need to take extreme measures to protect his tender ears!
4 comments:
Unfortunately for Elvis, the 'bad egg smells' from Rotorua Springs will pale into insignificance compared with sharing a campervan with Dodge Von Trumpmaster.
Errrrm I beg to differ and defend my brother!! They stayed in very close quarters with us for three weeks, and it wasn't Dodge Von Trumpmaster creating the pollution! And those are Mrs. Dodge Von Trumpmaster's words...not mine!
sissy Jen
PS from sissy...
...our Keith, with that concoction around yer heed, yer lookin more like a Pallion wifey every day!
Lord Farquar the nephew wants to know if Aunty Suzanne really went on a grade 5 whitewater rafting trip!! And if so, was the raft full of professionals and yuz two just tagged along lying fetal position in the bottom of the boat?
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