Roto-Vegas

While some compare Rotorua to Vegas, I found it much better!  After our afternoon in Hobbiton, we headed on to Rotorua for a few days.  This area is marketed as “where Kiwis go to play” and there is plenty of fun stuff to do.  We stayed in a middling hotel, but its best feature was the incredible view of the Pohutu geyser (New Zealand’s largest), which erupted frequently during our trip thanks to a little rain.  Rotorua is known for its geothermal qualities ranging from geysers to hot springs to bubbling mud pools.  It’s a tangible reminder that New Zealand was formed by volcanic activity and some of it is still happening.

We had a good taste of Maori culture and food by visiting the Whakarewarewa (say that three times fast!  The “Wh” is pronounced like an “f”) Living Maori Village. We had a great tour and enjoyed a performance as well as a hangi meal that was cooked in the natural boiling water right on the premises.  Luke enjoyed seeing the Maori chanting and challenges and has become quite taken with the haka, a traditional war challenge, which rugby teams often do before games.

We visited the Rotorua Museum, which is the most photographed building in New Zealand.  It was once a bath house and spa, where visitors travelled weeks by steamboat to stay and be treated for various maladies or just relax.  The museum features videos with one of New Zealand’s most famous actors, Tem Morrison, who is a native of Rotorua and who you might recognize from “Once Were Warriors” or probably as Jango Fett from Star Wars.

Taupo is close by, so we popped down one day to see the beautiful blue and green lakes, eat great Turkish food, and enjoy the shopping and playground.  We could do a whole blog (and maybe we will) on the amazing playgrounds and fun equipment for kids of all ages.  We also went to several waterfalls including the powerful Huka Falls.  I chose this photo of Okere Falls, because if you look closely at the bottom left you can see the kayaker who had just come down!

Our last stop was Skyline Rotorua where we took a gondola ride up the mountain for beautiful views of the lake.  We came down a few times on the luge ride and got to ride back up on the ski lift.  You’ll see Luke and Kevin here with their luges attached.  Definitely worth doing again!