Day 6 – North Island – Thursday 11th March 2010

 

Set off at 9:00am for Rotorua. Called in at Paula’s on the way. Beautiful big house set up a track on the hillside with marvellous views across country. In Rotorua we had a drive around and went to the Government Gardens. Took a photo of the blue baths and museum (first photo below). A very pretty building that is being renovated. We spotted a duck going past. Only this big bright yellow thing had a load of passengers in it. Just had to have a go in that (see later). We then drove down to the the lake front where we were greeted by thousands of birds. Black Swans (2nd photo below)and gulls galore. There was a float plane (can you see it?), a helicopter and a paddle steamer. There was another Waka, the “Waka Taua”. This means “a vessel for the conveyance of a war party”. We then spotted a booking office and booked to go on the Duck. This amphibious vehicle was built in 1942 and is still going strong. It wasn’t painted bright yellow in 1942. Might not have been a great colour choice on the Normandy beaches.

We then walked over to a church that was in a Maori village. The church was St. Faiths Ohinemutu. The grave yard was interesting. As the whole area is geothermal, you cannot dig a hole without it getting hot with all the steam that is ever present. So the graves are built above ground. Concrete things, not at all pretty but certainly functional.

After a light lunch in Kuirau Park we had plenty of time to drive around to Duck Central. Trish then went off to spend some of Ed’s money while we went on a tour of Rotorua. Had a smell at Sulphur Bay and then set off to the Blue Lake (Lake Tikitapu). When we arrived, after much banter from the driver and plenty of tall stories, we just drove straight into the lake and sailed away (see below – shot taken by hanging over the side of the duck while Val hung on to my feet – just wanted a shot of the duck on the water). How cute was that. We then repeated the trick at another lake, Lake Okareka. This lake has a fair old number of millionaire homes around it. Also an exclusive resort that charges a small fortune each night and Roman Abramovich stayed there with his family for six months. He could have bought one of the houses for what he paid but he wanted the easy life with everything laid on for him. I’m not jealous, doesn’t mean anything to me, does that.

After getting back to town we drove over to Rainbow Springs Nature Park. This is a Kiwi centre and one of the few places where you can see a real live Kiwi. Which we did. Trying to photograph the things was not as straightforward as we would have wished. But that was only a very small part of the experience. We saw loads of other creatures and plants and trees. We then left town and headed down to Taupo, stopping off at Waiotapu Thermal Area and got some great shots of the hot bubbling mud. In Taupo we booked into the Acapulco Motor Inn and I am currently sitting here using the free WiFi. We have been out for a great evening meal at the “Jolly Good Fellows”. The food was great. Superb Lamb shanks but I had to have the chicken curry which was terrific. Honestly, the best I have had. Washed down with a pint of Kilkenny. Bril!!