Kia Ora! ("Welcome" in Maori)

Sat. we were on the road by 7:30am on our way to Rotorua, about 3 hours south of Auckland. This is a huge geo-thermal area where you see steam rising out of the mountains at every turn. There are countless areas to stop and visit hot pools, mud pots and geysers, all with that wonderful sulfur smell and yellow color.

Our first stop was the Waimangu volcanic valley and we took a 1 1/2 hour walk down into the valley, passing steaming lakes and streams. The last major thermal activity in the area was in 1886 and created lots of these sites.

Waimangu volcanic valley


Steaming lake

Steamy river with sulfur deposits


Squirting hot mini-geyser


Black swans in (non-thermal!) Lake Rotomahana at the end of our hike in the Waimangu valley

After we had a quick picnic lunch at Okaro Lake, we headed to Rainbow Mountain and walked 15 minutes to the most incredible turquoise blue crater filled lake.

Rainbow Mountain with red rock


Turquoise crater lake

Then off to Te Puia, the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute. Besides all the geo-thermal activity, this area is also sacred ground to Maoris and Te Puia offers "the threads that form our heritage, a living legacy of people, culture and place."

At the Maori meeting house (with a nudge from me!), Miles was chosen as "chief" and he was honored at an elaborate welcoming ceremony.

Chief Miles being instructed by a Maori maiden about the welcoming ceremony

Here he's being greeted by the Maori warriors at the cermony

We then watched a 40-minute concert that involved action songs and female poi dance where the women use light balls on strings and swing the balls, slapping on various parts of their bodies. There were also stick games and the famous war dance, the haka. The dancers also demonstrated facial gestures (bulging eyes, stuck out tongue) that are used to intimidate their enemy.

Maori dancers--click on the picture to see the woman's bulging eyes--do you feel intimidated?

We then had a guided tour through the thermal grounds and saw different sites than during our walk in Waimangu: mud pots and geysers. The most famous geyser, Pohutu, erupts every 20 minutes or so and shoots hot steamy water for about 1/2 hour. Spectacular!

Te Puia thermal area

Sulfur cliffs


Pohutu Geyser (too bad it was raining and hard to see)

We also saw a Maori village, historical photo exhibit and the carving and weaving institute. People come from all over the world to learn these crafts and the examples we saw were amazing.

Various Maori carvings at the institute


Weaved skirts/baskets and feather capes

We tried to see the elusive kiwi bird in a special darkened exhibit (they are nocturnal), but unfortunately, they didn't show themselves. Everyone knows the kiwi is NZ's symbol, but they are very rarely seen.

Sunday we started our day driving to some smaller lakes near Rotorua: Blue Lake, Green Lake, Lake Otareka and Lake Tarawera. Each lake has its charm and we only had time for a glance from the scenic lookouts. I guess we just love lakes!

Lake Okareka

Blue Lake

Lake Tarawera


Green Lake

Then we were off to Huka Falls, near Lake Taupo. The falls, the most visited natural site in all of New Zealand (spectacular and easily accessible by car--no hiking), is really a rushing river that goes through a sudden chasm and leaps over an 11 meter ledge to foam in a deep semicircular basin. You can view this power from a bridge that crosses the chasm and also walk along to various view spots. You think we doctored the photos? No way! The color is an incredible light turquoise, clean and clear. Imagine the colors of the Caribbean in a river--that's the Waikato River and Huka Falls. We couldn't believe it either!

Huka Falls from above


Us on the bridge over the Waikato River


Power of the river!

We took a lovely 1/2 hour walk up river, had lunch at a view spot and around every turn, the smooth river was so clear you could see the bottom at all times. We were awe-struck!

The Waikato River on our walk--see the rocks underneath?

We then went to witness the nearby Aratiatia Rapids. These rapids occur when the Aratiatia Dam opens and the water pools at the top of the gorge and then powerfully rushes down. It's no wonder that there is a lot of hydro power stations in the area.

Before the dam opens...

The dam is opened, the water pools...


Full power!

Then we turned around and this is where the water goes

We then left for home, first going around Lake Taupo, Australasia's largest fresh water lake. It is about the size of Lake Tahoe and should've taken about 40 minutes to drive half way around, but when you HAVE to stop at every scenic turnout, it takes a bit longer. Lots of islands/outcroppings and views of the mountains in the nearby Tongariro National Forest, some peaks with snow.

Mt. Ruapehu and Lake Taupo

Last view of Lake Taupo before heading back to Auckland

The 4-hour drive home was anything but boring. The volcanic, hilly pasture land is so green and goes on and on and on, around every turn. Lots of hills dotted with sheep, cows and horses. No wonder lamb and beef is so tasty--they are eating fresh green grass all the time. (Sorry to talk about this if you're vegetarian, but we are in carnivore heaven.)

This from Miles: Driving on the 2-lane country roads, through the beautiful pasture lands, with spectacular views of lakes and mountains, with small friendly towns, makes me feel we've gone back in time to a better world, similar to the world I grew up in during the 50's and 60's in the US. I remember wonderful times water skiing on the Chesapeake and Deep Creek Lake and riding my motorcycle through the pasture lands in Potomac, MD. It's a little sappy, but that's the way I feel.

Back to me: And we HAD to try Hokey Pokey ice cream. The name alone got me curious. Delicious NZ vanilla with buttery candy pieces. Now you know.