Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Rotorua
Hi folks
Thanks to Ken, Isabel & Joann for their replies! Weather here is cooler today--no rain on trip so far but this could change! Glad Sam is eating well. I tried to send 2 blogs from Auckland but the system I was using was strange and I lost them both
Last day in Sydney we spent in the Gallery of Modern Art--superb photos by Rosemary Leach. Then wandered thru the Rocks--Pat got some beads for cards and admired the many craft items on display I walked up Observatory Hill and over to the Bridge. We then took the ferry to Manly, walked up the main street to the beach and the Pacific Ocean Like Bondi it is quite small and the surfing doesn't look as impressive as that off the English and Scottish coasts. We had magic sail back to Circular Quay as it was dark and the Opera House, City Centre and the Bridge were alight. Later after a meal on the concourse between the Quay & the Opera House we decided against a play--too tired!
Early start to get plane to NZ--first Qantas flight and it was on the tarmac for 90 mins! Late into Auckland meant we only had a stroll to the Quayside for a meal at Esquires--it was very good. Our accommodation was basic but central On Sunday am we took the Circular Bus--free and like the other city buses run by Stagecoach! It circles the city centre. We got off at the Sky Tower and were rewarded with superb views of the city and harbour The glass bottomed lift and parts of the Observation gallery were exciting! It is the highest structure in the southern hemisphere. We also saw people flying down from above us in a harness and fixed wires for $200!
At noon we picked up the car--supposedly upgraded--an ancient automatic Nissan Sunny Ezy cars don't deal in new cars and it is only $30 a day (12 GBP) We successfully navigated our way out of Auckland--it was good it was Sunday. The 100k limit is not a problem as everyone adheres to it. We took under 3 hours to get to Rotorua where we booked in for 4 nights in a studio--large room--sitting room, dining area, kitchen and bathroom--very comfortable and we breakfast there as well as 3 evening meals--Pack and Save supermarket very good.
I had an early am walk along the lake and after breakfast we visited Whakarewarewa Thermal site where we saw the evidence that Rotorua is part of the Volcanic Girdle-mud pools, thermals, geysers etc We were entertained to a Culture show of Maori song, dance and story--met 2 girls from Dublin. In the afternoon we saw 4 lakes and Mt Terewara which exploded in 1889 and destroyed many settlements--it was much bigger than Mt St Helens. In the evening more Maori culture at a Hangi and Concert--the Hangi is a meal cooked over several hours in the earth--lamb, chicken, sweet potatoes, vegetables--covered with sacks. The concert was different illustrating the different Maori tribes. After the meal--the above + salads and sweet we went for walk in the forest to see the glow worms, silver fern etc.
Yesterday went to another thermal area--more like Yellowstone--Wai-O-Tapu. The Lady Knox geyser is induced with soap flakes! There were spectacular features--Champagne lakes, huge craters, different coloured pools etc. Met people who had lived in Melrose! After lunch went south to Waikato River--saw water released from dam thru a gorge--only done for 30 mins a day and then on to Huka Falls where the river narrows from 100m wide to 15 and 5 m deep to 15m!--quite impressive. Had an undulating walk along the river for about an hour + and then on to Taupo, scene of another volcanic eruption and huge crater lake.
Today we had a session in our motel thermal pool and then went to the Maori Cultural Centre and saw more thermal activity, another show and more info on Maori custom and history as well as watching trainees carving some of the Maori traditions. In the afternoon we went to the Roturua Museum and Bath House. Pat's back is playing up and I hope it will be OK tomorrow when we aim for Napier, an Art Deco city which was destroyed by an earthquake in 1931.
The countryside here is quite hilly and the autumn tints are just appearing
Hope all this makes sense and that everyone is well
Had a phone call from the Lib Dems this am--my mobile at that!
Tom
Thanks to Ken, Isabel & Joann for their replies! Weather here is cooler today--no rain on trip so far but this could change! Glad Sam is eating well. I tried to send 2 blogs from Auckland but the system I was using was strange and I lost them both
Last day in Sydney we spent in the Gallery of Modern Art--superb photos by Rosemary Leach. Then wandered thru the Rocks--Pat got some beads for cards and admired the many craft items on display I walked up Observatory Hill and over to the Bridge. We then took the ferry to Manly, walked up the main street to the beach and the Pacific Ocean Like Bondi it is quite small and the surfing doesn't look as impressive as that off the English and Scottish coasts. We had magic sail back to Circular Quay as it was dark and the Opera House, City Centre and the Bridge were alight. Later after a meal on the concourse between the Quay & the Opera House we decided against a play--too tired!
Early start to get plane to NZ--first Qantas flight and it was on the tarmac for 90 mins! Late into Auckland meant we only had a stroll to the Quayside for a meal at Esquires--it was very good. Our accommodation was basic but central On Sunday am we took the Circular Bus--free and like the other city buses run by Stagecoach! It circles the city centre. We got off at the Sky Tower and were rewarded with superb views of the city and harbour The glass bottomed lift and parts of the Observation gallery were exciting! It is the highest structure in the southern hemisphere. We also saw people flying down from above us in a harness and fixed wires for $200!
At noon we picked up the car--supposedly upgraded--an ancient automatic Nissan Sunny Ezy cars don't deal in new cars and it is only $30 a day (12 GBP) We successfully navigated our way out of Auckland--it was good it was Sunday. The 100k limit is not a problem as everyone adheres to it. We took under 3 hours to get to Rotorua where we booked in for 4 nights in a studio--large room--sitting room, dining area, kitchen and bathroom--very comfortable and we breakfast there as well as 3 evening meals--Pack and Save supermarket very good.
I had an early am walk along the lake and after breakfast we visited Whakarewarewa Thermal site where we saw the evidence that Rotorua is part of the Volcanic Girdle-mud pools, thermals, geysers etc We were entertained to a Culture show of Maori song, dance and story--met 2 girls from Dublin. In the afternoon we saw 4 lakes and Mt Terewara which exploded in 1889 and destroyed many settlements--it was much bigger than Mt St Helens. In the evening more Maori culture at a Hangi and Concert--the Hangi is a meal cooked over several hours in the earth--lamb, chicken, sweet potatoes, vegetables--covered with sacks. The concert was different illustrating the different Maori tribes. After the meal--the above + salads and sweet we went for walk in the forest to see the glow worms, silver fern etc.
Yesterday went to another thermal area--more like Yellowstone--Wai-O-Tapu. The Lady Knox geyser is induced with soap flakes! There were spectacular features--Champagne lakes, huge craters, different coloured pools etc. Met people who had lived in Melrose! After lunch went south to Waikato River--saw water released from dam thru a gorge--only done for 30 mins a day and then on to Huka Falls where the river narrows from 100m wide to 15 and 5 m deep to 15m!--quite impressive. Had an undulating walk along the river for about an hour + and then on to Taupo, scene of another volcanic eruption and huge crater lake.
Today we had a session in our motel thermal pool and then went to the Maori Cultural Centre and saw more thermal activity, another show and more info on Maori custom and history as well as watching trainees carving some of the Maori traditions. In the afternoon we went to the Roturua Museum and Bath House. Pat's back is playing up and I hope it will be OK tomorrow when we aim for Napier, an Art Deco city which was destroyed by an earthquake in 1931.
The countryside here is quite hilly and the autumn tints are just appearing
Hope all this makes sense and that everyone is well
Had a phone call from the Lib Dems this am--my mobile at that!
Tom
