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Rotorua

Rotorua is known for its thermal pools and mud baths. The thermal pools emit a number of gases, among them, hydrogen sulfide, known for its "rotten egg" smell. The smell was barely noticeable when it was windy, but if was calm, the smell could be hard to take. It was an interesting experience.

In Rotorua, as elsewhere in New Zealand, the New Zealanders were invariably pleasant and friendly and helpful, and did not make fun of tourists as they struggled to figure out which coins were which. We did become acquainted with the money fairly quickly, however, as everything in New Zealand was very expensive.

There were a large variety of attractions in Rotorua, and we packed a lot into our few days there.

(Click on any picture for a larger image.)

Our first stop was the Rotarua Museum. The structure was built in the early 1800s as a mecca for rich English who came for hot mud baths to relieve the aches of arthritis. The builder installed bath tubs and an elaborate pumping system to move the mud into the tubs.

The museum also had an exhibit of Maori culture in the early 1800s. The guide told us the early 19th century Maoris set up exhibits of their culture and charged tourists handsomely -- if you were English and traveling to New Zealand in the early 19th century, you clearly had money to spend.

The New Zealand guide who described the early Maori entrepreneurship efforts said with a smile and without apparent irony that the Maoris had learned to soak the English. We found the present day New Zealanders had also did a pretty good job of soaking the tourists.

This picture of Rotorua was taken from the top floor of the museum.

And this picture was taken outside, in back of the museum. These steaming mud flats were scattered throughout Rotura.

Here's another one we came across as as we were driving around.

On the second afternoon, we visited the "Agrodome", which was home to an exhibit on all of the different kinds of sheep in New Zealand. I had not previously known that there were different types of sheep for milking, for meat, and for shearing.

These are real life sheep, with a sheep dog literally riding herd. After the sheep were all lined up (they were introduced one by one), there was a sheep sheering demonstrataion. Then we all went outside and watched the sheep dog rounded up the just sheered sheep and the sheered sheep from the previous two days.

Honoring their heritage, the Agrodome owners charged $20 (US) for admission to the show.

Wherever we went in New Zealand we made friends. However, some were less talkative than others...

We also visited a redwood forest in New Zealand. The redwoods were planted by early English settlers who thought they would use the wood for beams and other structural elements. It turns out that the climate is so favorable (warm and wet) that the redwoods grow so fast that they are spongy and the wood can't be used to support anything heavy. The bark, is however, used for shakes and other decorative items.

We took a long walk through the redwoods and came across this sign. The natives weren't kidding when they said it was very damp here.

A few days later, we left Rotorua for Taupo. On the way, we stopped at the Waiotapu "Thermal Wonderland", a Department of Conservation park. We had heard about the geyser there and wanted to see it.

This is a DOC ranger explaining that he's going to put organic soap into the geyser behind him on the left. The soap will cause the hot water and cold water below the geyser to mix.

Ready...

Set...

Go!

We had heard before we went that the geyser went up every morning at 10:15, and we couldn't understand how it could be timed so precisely. Having a ranger add soap to set it off answered that question.

There was walk through the thermal pools and (yet more) mud baths in Waiotapu. Ths is the champagne pool, so called because of the color (from the minerals) and the bubbling water.

Its surface temperature is 74ºC (165ºF).

And this is the Silica Terrace crossing. The whole area is very other worldly and not something we'd ever seen before.

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On to Tongariro...

	Our first stop was the Rotarua Museum. The structure was built in the early 1800s as a mecca for rich English who came for hot mud baths to relieve the aches of arthritis. The builder installed bath tubs and an elaborate pumping system to move the mud into the tubs. The museum also had an exhibit of Maori culture in the early 1800s. The guide told us the early 19th century Maoris set up exhibits of their culture and charged tourists handsomely -- if you were English and traveling to New Zealand in the early 19th century, you clearly had money to spend.
	The New Zealand guide who described the early Maori entrepreneurship efforts said with a smile and without apparent irony that the Maoris had learned to soak the English. We found the present day New Zealanders had also did a pretty good job of soaking the tourists. This picture of Rotorua was taken from the top floor of the museum.
	And this picture was taken outside, in back of the museum. These steaming mud flats were scattered throughout Rotura.
	Here's another one we came across as as we were driving around.
	On the second afternoon, we visited the "Agrodome", which was home to an exhibit on all of the different kinds of sheep in New Zealand. I had not previously known that there were different types of sheep for milking, for meat, and for shearing. These are real life sheep, with a sheep dog literally riding herd. After the sheep were all lined up (they were introduced one by one), there was a sheep sheering demonstrataion. Then we all went outside and watched the sheep dog rounded up the just sheered sheep and the sheered sheep from the previous two days. Honoring their heritage, the Agrodome owners charged $20 (US) for admission to the show.
	Wherever we went in New Zealand we made friends. However, some were less talkative than others...
	We also visited a redwood forest in New Zealand. The redwoods were planted by early English settlers who thought they would use the wood for beams and other structural elements. It turns out that the climate is so favorable (warm and wet) that the redwoods grow so fast that they are spongy and the wood can't be used to support anything heavy. The bark, is however, used for shakes and other decorative items.
	We took a long walk through the redwoods and came across this sign. The natives weren't kidding when they said it was very damp here.
	A few days later, we left Rotorua for Taupo. On the way, we stopped at the Waiotapu "Thermal Wonderland", a Department of Conservation park. We had heard about the geyser there and wanted to see it. This is a DOC ranger explaining that he's going to put organic soap into the geyser behind him on the left. The soap will cause the hot water and cold water below the geyser to mix. Ready...
	Set...
	Go! We had heard before we went that the geyser went up every morning at 10:15, and we couldn't understand how it could be timed so precisely. Having a ranger add soap to set it off answered that question.
	There was walk through the thermal pools and (yet more) mud baths in Waiotapu. Ths is the champagne pool, so called because of the color (from the minerals) and the bubbling water. Its surface temperature is 74ºC (165ºF).
	And this is the Silica Terrace crossing. The whole area is very other worldly and not something we'd ever seen before.
...Back to Home	On to Tongariro...