Day 2 & 3. After visiting Waitomo caves and straining to try to catch a glimpse of where Matamata might be in the countryside (I saw the sign to it), we arrived in Rotorua. Rotorua is famous for its steamy thermal activity (loads of hot pools and fissures including sulphurous smells) but is also a heartland of Maori culture.
We discovered a number of mud pools and hot fissures on an afternoon walk near our hotel .... fascinating! If I return, I will definitely explore more of the hot pools and spots. (The sign below indicates the danger to casual walkers if they stray off the path as there are fissures of bubbling water along the lake shore. (Note the misty quality of the air).
Some of the water from these hot pools is piped into man made spas and has good therapeutic qualities (I felt I wanted one of these for work in contrast to the heated chlorinated pool we use for hydrotherapy .... except the sulphur smell is a bit harder to take compared with the chlorine).
You need to be careful about standing downwind from this pool as the vapours it gives off have a similar effect to laughing gas .... we found that we were quite light headed after standing close to it for a few minutes. (No need for the glass of wine/pre-dinner drink).
The Rotorua Museum of Art and History (above) has a fabulous exhibition dedicated to Maori settlement and culture. The building was opened in 1908 as the "Great Spa of the South Pacific" where people came for cures by soaking in the therapeutic hot water and mud.
On our first evening in Rotorua, we were lucky enough to go to a Powhiri (Traditional Maori Welcoming Ceremony) at the Tamaki Village.
Protocol.
The powhiri exists to establish the good intentions of the visiting group and it is a display of strength and hospitality on the part of the hosts.
1. The visitors (manuhiri) gather at the front gate of the marae.
2. Wero - challenge. A warrior comes forward issuing a challenge which is intended to discover if the group's intentions are peaceful. He wll lay a small branch on the ground for the appointed leader of the group to pick up as a gesture of peace (teka).
3. Karanga - call of welcome is issued and visitor group moves forward together with appointed leader at the front.
4. Hongi - pressing of noses
5. Speeches and dances
6. Hokari/Hangi - feast
Hangi oven with hot stones used to cook meats.
Geothermal Valley:
Next morning we took a bus to Rotorua's Te Puia to look at more geothermal activity. It was pouring with rain, but still absolutely amazing ... and if I'm honest, a little bit intimidating. I was just slightly concerned about eruptions, but apparently the region is well monitored by scientists who detect any signs of concern.
Geyser
Mud pool
Steam rising from hot pools and springs in amongst trees.
A return to Rotorua and environs for me is a must as I want to look at more of the thermal activity. I also feel that a visit to the volcanos further south (Tongariro and Ruapehu) will be a "must".
Next: Heading south to Wellington although we only spent an evening in Windy Wellie which wasn't quite enough time!
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