The view from our window first thing in the morning in Rotorua
We were picked up by a private car and a guy named Martin. Our first part of our tour (it was 7:30 am) was to the local thermal springs in town. Martin explained that the lake was, in fact, a caldera of an enormous volcano. After it first blew its lid, the entire region was a lake. Gradually, as various volcanic disturbances occurred, the lake dropped to its present level. The photos below show the buildings devoted to the hot springs and another New Zealand bird.
This bird is called a Pukeko. They're fairly common and were running all over the park in Rotorua
The building in the photo began as a bathhouse. After time, it became the area's museum. Martin told us it was the most photographed building in Rotorua.
Charlie and I are standing in front of a bubbling hot spring
We had a plane flight to Queenstown at 12:30. Our list of activities for today was so peculiarly worded, we really had a bit of a time working out what was going to happen. Basically, we had three places to visit, then off to the airport.
Our first stop was Te Puia, a thermal hot springs area close to Rotorua. It was run by the government but the Maori really directed what was going on here. There were geysers, one went off three times an hour, boiling pools of mud, and lots of other geothermal things. There was also a great Maori exhibit as well. There were training schools for native Maoris to learn carving and weaving. Very interesting place
The entrance to Te Puia
The geyser from a bit of a distance. There was so much steam when we were close, I couldn't get a good photo
Mineral deposits at the base of the geyser
A steam oven that operates on the hot springs.
A boiling mud pool - note the spurts of mud.
A pataka - a Maori store house
A wharenui - a meeting house
A Maori canoe - Charlie and Martin as size
A carver at the Maori carving academy.
From there we went to the Agrodome Farm Show. Of all the things that were planned for us this morning, this one seemed the lamest. But as with lots of other things I wasn't looking forward to, this turned out to be kind of fun. They introduced many varieties of sheep - live ones of course - demonstrated how to shear a sheep, and milk a cow. There were a few dog herding pieces - one where a dog barked like a fool and then ran over the top of the sheep I could have done without - but the rest was pretty good.
These sheep don't look real - but they're not a taxidermists dream - they're actual sheep. The missing one decided he'd had enough and began running around on the top level. They couldn't get him back onto his perch, so he was summarily banished.
A sheep getting shorn - he kind of went limp.
Our next stop was the Rainbow Springs park. The specialty here were Kiwi exhibits. I had never seen a live Kiwi before, and there were several that we managed to see. They only are awake a few hours a day, and then only at night. In order to see them, you have to go into the "night zoo" environment - so no photos - but they are interesting birds. Heavy legs for a bird and long thin beaks with nostrils at the end. They lay eggs that are about half their size - doesn't seem possible. When they scuttle around they look like they have something off with their center of gravity. All in all, very odd birds. The rest of Rainbow Springs were several exhibits with native New Zealand birds and reptiles (and a few from Australia).
Not a kea - but a nice bird
Rosie the Kea - raised by hand at Rainbow Springs
A silver fern - new photo
From there we went to the airport. I fortunately asked Martin how long the flight from Rotorua to Queenstown was going to be. He explained the flight wasn't direct. We discovered we were to stop in Christchurch, then go on the Queenstown. So we did. Christchurch isn't so interesting - but Queenstown sits on a lake in an amazing setting. Our first room at the hotel here was on the ground floor - we asked for a move - and are now in a lovely 4th floor room - lots of light.
Below are views of Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu
Tomorrow - touring around here.
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