Choose another map, showing:

• New Zealand (North Island)
• New Zealand
• Oceania
• Eurasia, Africa & Pacific
• The World

Other entries in Rotorua

Te Puia

We woke up this morning to find freshly baked muffins which Ann had got up at 6am to bake - yes we are being well looked after!
We do still have to work though and gardening was on the agenda but first we had to feed the animals as Rob was at work. Off we went on the tractor and as we chugged up to the field with the calves in one decided we weren't bringing breakfast quick enough and broke the fence down in an attempt to get to the tractor. So calves had to be rounded up and the fence mended.
We managed and then continued to work very hard until midday when we went to checkout how hard Rob really works! He buys and sells stock so we went to the auction and saw his cows being sold. It was a good experience - lots and lots of cows and sheep being sold very quickly dependant on their weight!

We didn't stay too long as we wanted to go and explore more of Rotorua. We checked out what the tourist info place had to say and then decided on a plan of attack for the next few days over lunch. We booked a tour of White Island and then went to investigate the most regular and reliable geyser in town.

At Te Puia a Maori village and crafts centre right in the middle of town there is the Pohutu Geyser which goes off every hour for at least 15mins. It is 30m high and flanked by the Prince of Wales feathers Geyser which is 3 smaller ones. It was so impressive to see and to think it is so close to the town and has been erupting for thousands of years! We walked right up close to it and sat on a wall which was so hot you could only stay on for a few minutes.

The weird thing was the freshwater stream running right through the geo thermal area with fish a plenty which you could have caught and then cooked by placing it on the ground next to you!

We then went to the Kiwi house and saw our first Kiwi (bird not person or fruit) it was dark and we weren't allowed to take photos unfortuately, we also visited the Maori carving school and saw the amazing craftmanship which has been past down through the tribes- it is all so beautiful but to in our budget as much as we would love some souvenirs.

Add to del.icio.us Add to reddit

Photos / videos of "Te Puia":