Day 6: Joining Kiwi Experience with a Kiwi Experience

Day 6, Friday 11th December 

T avelling on the Kiwi Experience bus tour

Rotorua to Auckland

The whole team, plus a new bunch in the KE tour bus

On our way towards Bay of Islands and NZ's most northerly point

Distance: 229km

Total Distance: 981

I left not too bright and early from Rotorua, catching the KE bus going north. There's a random bunch of people on here from all over the world (still lots of English & Germans though). 

Had a good chat with a few before we dropped in at a large Kiwi hatchery. It was advertised as the place where one would get the closest experience possible with a Kiwi. I slightly take issue with that- there's a Kiwi in Napier Aquarium where they have a hatchery. The hatchery isn't on public display, but they do have a Kiwi. There's also a one legged Kiwi in Wellington Zoo- not sure why they haven't given him/her a prosthetic, I'm sure I know a couple of people who could. (Mammal-like bone structure too, including marrow, unlike most birds. Easy as. I'm sure they have a reason, Wellington Zoo has good Veterianry facilities.)

What I will say for the nursery near Rotorua though is that it's the best. The kiwis they have are in excellent enclosures and seemed much more lively than the others I've seen. (Napier Aquarium deserves more funding and Welli has one leg.) The hatchery and nursery were also great to see. 

The mother kiwi can lay 2 eggs per season, but each egg is HUGE. They are the equivalent of a 35lb baby fo a human (5year old child). 

After birth the father takes over (monogamous, so daddy and mummy share a territory for life), and sits on the egg for 80 day. This is how they find the eggs- the fathers are tagged. If he stays in one spot for a long time that's probably an egg. 

Naturally, at this point, the fathe leaves. The chicks squeaks and scratches its way out of the egg (no egg tooth) over the course of a week, making lots of noise for predators to hear. It quite often sleeps for long periods during the process. Each chick has an internalised yolk sack that acts as a feed source for 2 weeks before it needs to eat (a chicken's lasts 24 hours), giving it long enough to mature. Yeh, it's not long- they come out as mini-adults.

After all of this the wild survival rate is 5%. Not really enough. 

Ferrets used to kill 40,000 kiwis per year

There's 75,000 in the wild.

Time to bring in the humans.

Having tracked down the sitting kiwi the egg is retrieved after the fath has left.

It is brought into the hatchery where the shell is checked for cracks and the size of the air sack in the egg is measured- this indicates how old the chick is so gives a guide to how long until hatching.

After this the egg is placed in an incubator. Most eggs go in the large one that does everything- temperature control, air flow, turning the eggs. Similar model to that used to raise farm chickens, but for bigger eggs.

Special eggs that there might be concerns about are placed in slightly older models- still temperature controlled, but the turning has to be done manually. This means someone has to go and look at the eggs and check they are alright.

Eventually the chick with start to hatch. Most birds have an "egg tooth", a little toe bit of extra beak to break open the egg shell. Kiwis don't . They just have to hammer their way out of the egg, between sleeps, over the course of a week, until they emerge fully feathered, with giant feet and tiny wings. (Occasionally birds need help put most are allowed to hatch naturally). They get a dab of iodine on their navel, just like lambs and calves.

The nursery weighs them and puts them in a different incubator for them to adjust to life and eat their internal yolk.

Once they are judged medically sound they can be moved further. They get fed a combination of Hill's Science Plan Optimum Cat Food, with mixed veg, fruit, wheat germ, vitamins and minerals, rolled oats, few other bits mixed in to a soft blend. Yummy.

It's more nutritionally sound than just giving them the kilos of bugs they would naturally have, as well as cheaper and easier that's growing kilos of bugs. Each kiwi gets a wee dish of the mix. Once it finishes its share (some get a little h lo to start them off) they get "desert"- a blend of live bugs! Don't finish your main, don't get to play with your other food. Rules is rules.

They keep track of weights to ensure the little balls of fluff are growing properly. 

After they're sure they can hunt and live in the wild properly they are released to a "colony". Whilst each kiwi has a territory, they try to keep them in a specific area. This enables them to keep track of the kiwis and allows them to only have to look after a certain amount of land (as well as making kiwi match making easier)

In total the process costs NZ$2000-2500 (GB£1000-1250), from collection to release. In the wild it takes about NZ$100 per kiwi per year. They live for around 20-30 years, so per kiwi it's not cheap. Hence many of the kiwis are sponsored by companies. These sponsors are allowed to name the kiwis...but this is before they know the sex of the bird. 

Like many birds these days it is possible to take out 1 feather and do a PCR DNA test to find out if he is a she or she is a he. The test is becoming cheaper, but it's not very fast, taking weeks to get the results back. Hence Miss Steven and Miss Dugg.

At present they have 2 adults on site, a mating pair. Both very lively in their little forested enclosure, running about diggin for grubs and pruning themselves.

Tonto found one to ride into battle

We also had a wee drop into Matamata. The town used to be famous for horse breeding. With the filming of The Hobbit, however, the Hobbiton set was rebuilt nearby. This has given the area a tourist trade, to the point that they've had their information centre converted into a thatched cottage by Weta Workshop.

Tonto made a friend inside

Now I'm on a quiet, sleepy bus heading towards Auckland, watching Wedding Crashers, as the weather closes in.

Day 4 & 5: Rotorua, Redwoods, Buried Village & Exhausting Myself

Days 4 & 5, Wednesday 9th, Thursday 10th,December

Rotorua, The Redwoods, and The Buried Village

Myself & Tonto (Walter Knitty's just too big for some of these journeys)

Walked about 40km (25 miles) - thankfully I could carry a light bag

Total Journey Distance: 752km

The plan: 

Walk to The Buried Village- a cross between Beamish (a Northern England Must See) and Pompeii (an Italian Must See)

Walk, in part, through the Redwood forest park

I'm writing this on the afternoon on my fifth day. I just couldn't find the energy last night. I could barely walk. So amazing to have a soak and a shower afterwards. I wasn't much better this morning, so this has been a bit of a lazy day. Just talking to whoever was around the hostel. I deserve it. Yesterday was nuts.

I guess I should have felt warned when I managed to, in the rush to get out of the door, forget the green stone pendent I was given by the practice as a leaving present.

Although, maybe I kept some of the effects. I was certainly determined. I did get plenty of walking in. Just not so sure how good it was for my short term health.

The day started at the hostel at 8am. The Buried Village site is 15km away by road. With a small day sack I can easily cover 30km in a day. In theory I would be there by 11am, before the day became far too hot.

The first few kilometres I steadily got into my usual rhythm wandering along watching out for traffic and ensuring I was alongside the correct highway.

I turned onto the road that lead to the Village. There was the entrance to the redwood site. 1km to the centre and start of their tracks. I had a memory of one route that would take me across the are to a place far closer to the Village. But if I was wrong I could be doing another 2km, and if I was right, with hills etc. I'd be doing another 3km minimum- but under the trees and through the forest. I might also lose and hour. I could still be at the village for 12 though, that was fine.

The route does have a proper name. Something long and in Moari which, for better or worse, I can't pronounce, spell, or remember. But it had black arrows showing the way, so I just called it the black route. Simple.

The problem was that there was work going on in the forest.

"Please ask inside about diversions"

Pay, no fear,I was just wanting to follow the road, I'd work it out.

The first 10km were up and into the forest. We travelled through a region filled with giant American redwoods, brought over for the timber industry,but here left as a recreational park, mostly for mountain biking. There are also fern trees and bushes interspersed, giving the place a "Jurassic Park" feel. If anyone remembers the Walking with Dinosaurs episode about the baby sauropod this is that landscape.

Up and into the hills, the vies we distupted by the trees, until we got deep enough to were vast swaths had been felled. This was the commercial area at the back of the park.

Eventually I descended and reached the roadside. The path was due to follow the road further, in theory. I should have gone with the plan and followed it. Yet it wasn't obvious, and there was the road. There were a lot of cars on it, maybe I could hitchhike?

I've done a fair amount of road walking in the past. I don't generally encourage it due to the dangers.  There are a few rules to make it safer, though.

Keep as far off the road as possible. 

Keep yourself aware of traffic, and get out the way! Especially big stuff.

When walking round a bend walk on the outside. Your more easily seen and people tend to drive towards the inside of a curve.

The forest walk, whilst nice, hadn't given me a short cut, or a decent time. It was 11am, the sun was hot, I was hungry, and I still had 12km to do. I fished out one of my small burger buns, a cold sausage and a boiled egg. Not much of a sandwich but it hit the spot.

Right. Hitchhiking. People still do it here. People on highways with too much time and too little cash. People just trying to go somewhere else. Successful people doing it either look sensible or have a low cut top and sweet smile. So yeh...

After 6km I'd given up and had my kindle out, reading the last of my Harry Dresden novel. The trees had grown closer, the traffic less, and my legs were in auto. I sipped water from my bag and hammered along.

 Reached the Blue and Green lakes at about 12.30. There were a lot of families splashing about, having fun. I was knackered. Why was I bothering? This wasn't worth it! Surely I would have had more fun staying in Rotorua. Maybe if I turned back now I could do more in the redwood forest, go have a sleep, have a drink with my feet up. I'd done enough for the day. I'd earned a rest.

"Buried Village 4km"

Sod it.

There were even fewer cars as I carried on, but more trees. I just keep going. Mindless, just carrying on.

"Buried Village 1km"

We can do this.

Where all the cool kids at.

"The Buried Village. Devonshire Cream Teas 10am-3.30pm"

Finally!

Have you ever sat on a train staring out of the window, only for when it stops to still feel like you're moving? Your eyes and brain make it seem as if everything is very steadily slipping past.

I had that when I'd stopped walking. Freaky. I must have been doing a very consistent pace.

I shook my head and sat down outside. 2 bread buns, a sausage, boiled egg, and an apple. A little bit of bread when to the friendly wee bird that cautiously came to say hello.

The Buried Village

In the year 1886 the most famous tourist attraction in New Zealand were the Pink and White Terraces.

I know, tourism on the other side of the world for the Victorians! Looking at some of their stuff they clearly didn't travel light either. Glad I'm not carting around half a dozen petticoats. One's enough for me.

The terraces were formed as hot, mineral rich boiling waters bubbled out from the volcano. The minerals were deposited as the water cooled, forming a series of terraces and small pools, not unlike a Chinese paddy field hillside. Tourists would start at the cooler bottom pools, working up to the warmer pools, then down again. Some items were pertained in the pools- there's a bowler hat someone left in a pool for a year in the museum. It's not unlike Mother Shipton's cave in Yorkshire- but the minerals are a pretty white or pink, not a rusty brown.

It wasn't to last though. On the night of the 10th June 1886 the ground shook and then exploded. The volcanoes heating the terraces had erupted. Rock and dust fell out of the sky onto the local village, destroying Maori and Pakeha buildings alike. Hundreds died via direct hits, buildings collapsing under the weight of debris, or from toxic gases. Many tried to run, or huddled together in larger Whares ("Fares"- traditional Maori houses). Some were successful- the main guide, Sophia, a half-Maori half-Scottish lady successfully sheltered many in her home.

It was all over by morning. Rescue parties were sent out, digging people out from the 2 metres of dust and mud up to 4 days after the event. Some were even deeper. Some too deep to rescue.

Initial reports proposed the the terraces had, in part, survived. This would at least mean the tourist trade could continue. Then the truth came. They were gone. Simply gone. The land had shifted, moved, flown. The lake had been altered, part of the mountains obliterated, and the terraces nothing more than a memory, other than a few chunks littering the land.

No more farming, no more tourism. Local Maori donated food, blankets, and even land to help their refugees. The Pakeha were not so lucky. Many went to find new work, but those who owned businesses were ruined. The insurance companies declared that no one was eligible for protection from volcanic eruptions so wouldn't pay out. Some items were retrieved, medals were awarded to people for bravery, but nothing prevented bankruptcy.

Vi Smith had begun a little tea room not far from Lake Tawera. She was effectively right above the original village. He sons, before WW2 began excavating the site, finding Victorian items, and them homes. After the war the excavations continued, and do to this day. They are steadily unearthing everything that had been left behind.

Thus, today, the tea room has a museum attached documenting the day the terraces were destroyed. The grandson of the Maori chief who saw the eruption guides some of the tours. Outside are a collection of the houses they have unearthed, including a few Whare and the blacksmiths. 

And finally, their waterfall.

Sorry, the rest of my photos are on my camera, which isn't as easy to move photos from right now compared to my phone.

Suddenly my day REALLY doesn't seem so bad

After my wander round, I'd missed afternoon tea. It was bang on 3.30pm and everything was shut up. I managed to find someone to fill my water though, then sat down for a little snack. Still had to get back.

So, I set off. I'd finished my book and wasn't in the mood to start another. I was getting tired. Very tired. Must have done 20km so far. I didn't have a great deal of food left either. I really wasn't in to mood to carry on. Why should I anyway? I could be back at 10pm and it wouldn't matter. I got to the Blue lake and had a lie down. Just a little nap, a sleep to help. The wind picked up. The clouds might have been a dark shade. No rain as forecast. Wasn't going to take the chance though. A cereal bar and I was off.

I'm not much of a music person. I like it, enjoy it, appreciate it- but I can never remember track names nor artist's names. So far I hadn't put in my earphones- the book was already an excessive risk when road walking. But without it, and keeping the volume down, I risked it. And I'm so glad I did! My legs got back into the rhythm. I was suddenly positive again, able to just keep going. We eve off!

So far along I noticed, as we passed a few redwoods 8km along, a little hole in the hedge. I pushed through and there it was, the black track that ran along the roadside! It had been so close throughout my earlier walk. Well, I'd missed this opportunity before, let's not do it again. Hearty pace, don't get run down by the occasional mountain bike, keep going. 

After several kilometres the road diverted off and a gully grew between it and the track. This must be a short cut around that, I decided. Keep going.

The gully grew. Some hills were added to the ensemble. Big hills. A ridge. A long ridge. Ah. I'd missed the turning I hadn't taken that morning. I was lost. And going south- I wanted to go west, over the ridge.

Suddenly I came across a black arrow. So, i was in the right area. But do I go with the track, or against it? Against was uphill and south. With it was down into the gully. I followed it... Into a turning circle for log trucks. The path ended. Must have missed a diversion too. Oops.

I heard voices further down the gully. Young guys playing on mountain bikes. Time to ask for directions.

I know men traditionally are supposed to be too proud to ask for directions. If I have a map I usually am. But when I'm tired, the sun is setting behind the ridge I might have to climb, and I have no idea where I am pride can go (rude words) itself.

As I walked down I noticed an older man put his bike down and walk over the lip of the land into the gully. He'd know where I should go. I walked towards him. A head appeared out of the bush, his wife pulling up her shorts!

I blurted out something akin to an apology, then turned around for a few paces, trying not to blush. She came up the hill, pulling a bike I hadn't noticed out of the trees.

"You look lost"

I tried to explain my position.

"My husband knows this place better than me"

Her husband arrived out of the bushes with their daughter. He did a fair job of explaining were to go. But it wasn't exactly safe.

"Go over this creek, then climb up that bike track. You'll find a clearing. You see that gap between those two trees? Yeh, that's the exit of a bit track. You'll know it by the massive jumps it has. Follow that up to the track. Then do down hill to the filtration ponds. Take a right, follow that, it'll turn into asphalt. Follow that until the cross roads, take a right, you'll come to the end of the road the redwood centre is on"

Simple, easy, slightly dangerous and tiring, but God bless that man!

I followed his advice. He wasn't wrong about the bike jumps. The last one was like two king size beds at 30' angles, separated by a gap the size of another king size bed. The rest weren't much easier.

His was probably more dangerous than the roads. I took the earphones out and kept to the edges. I wasn't so much worried about anyone hitting m- I'd be able to get out of the way. But suddenly seeing a random guy when riding a bike at 20+km/hr through a forest- that could lead to some serious miscalculation and I didn't want to see someone crunch into a tree because of me. Keep close to the trees, be ready to hide well out of the way.

Is that a hare? What's a hare doing here?

The little fluff ball looked up at me. I wasn't going to get any closer. It wasn't quite right though.

Then it started hopping off. But not like a hare does. Just on its hind legs, holding its front paws off the ground.

A Wallaby!

There's not many in the park- they eye released by accident from a private collection. Now a few live out their lives amongst the trees. And I'd seen one!

I got to the entrance of the track without seeing any crazy humans trying out the massive jumps. At the top I got a confused but caring look from two mountain bikers who gave me the same directions as before and sent me on my way. I was so close that I had to celebrate. More music, my last half bread bun and an apple. Oh, splash out, have the other cereal bar.

There were more people as I got closer, a few dogs, families, walkers, asphalt. Finally I was back down to ground level. I found the information centre. It was 6.30pm and only 4km back to the hostel. I fished out the last of my food to help me finish off. A raw carrot. I'm sorry, who packed this bag? Where's the Jelly Babies, or the chocolate? Weirdo.

Once bag I hammered through 2 bread buns and a giant bowl of last night's curry. At 9 the Irish lass who's in the dorm room invited me to the warm spa pool. Oh, so good for the legs. She chatted with the old American lady we shared the pool with as I allowed blood to leave my head to do good elsewhere. 

After a shower I stumbled to bed and passed out. It was good night's sleep. 

Day 3: To Roto-Vegas Baby!

Day 3

The whole team

Taking the bus from Gisborne to Rotorua

Finding a nice wee hostel as base, visiting Pak 'n' Sav, resting, eating, chatting to/up seven different nationalities

Distance today 272km

Total distance 712km

Today was due to be an early start as the only bus to Gisborne (at a reasonable price) left at 7:55am. It was made even earlier when the only other Brit in the building fell out of bed at 5am, with a thud and a yelp. She was fine but it seemed like as good a time as any to get up.

Breakfast consisted of cold sausage and disappointment. I couldn't get the BBC to stream. 

No Have I Got News For You, No Dr Who, Much Boo Hoo.

Anyway, off to the bus, occasional sleep, weird looks at the toilet stop from a small biker gang, quick drive past the coast, then to Rotorua.

And into the lodge. 

There's a vast number of German people here. Everyone's surprised by it, even the Germans! I'm trying to learn German but it's not been smooth. I'll get there.

In the mean time they're practicing their English on me, as are the Italians, the Chinese, the Brazilians, the French, the Argentinians, as well as there being a few English and Irish about. Lovely people. I've decided I need to try more French and German though- I've a spattering of it lodged in my brain somewhere. Just need to drag it into the light, blow it off, then show it off. Might as well be ambitious.

Other than that I've just been chilling, planning, cooking, drinking tea, and eating bananas.

Ooh, I forgot! Over dinner got talking to a girl from central China. I was making curry, but having none of the usual carbs I was using up my noodles. I then proceeded to eat my mess with chopsticks. She loved it- first European she'd ever seen using them. She was so impressed she took a photo! 

I've got skills, bro.

Anyway, finishing cup of tea no. 6, next to the last half a pack of Cadbury's and a few remaining bananas. The weather's cool but the spa pool is at 44C. Did I not mention? The cheapest hostel in Rotorua has its own geothermal spa pool. 

Sweet.

What I did on my long weekend in Taupo & Rotorua

I'm afraid I'm going to have to serialise last weekend, because it was AWESOME!!!

Last weekend I looked into the deep hot brimstone of the earth, was sufficated by it, soaked in it, inspired by it. I saw that which it has made, is making and was told what it will make. Alongside it was the great mountains and waterways it had made, wonders in themselves. All surrounded by the glorious flora and fauna of New Zealand.

This is a basic over view of the weekend. I will try go over what I saw (with pictures) in later posts. I had managed to get a 4 day weekend, due to a Friday state holiday and Monday as Day In Lieu for working a weekend, so decide to explore north to see NZ's land of fire & lakes.

Friday was Waitangi Day, the holiday to celebrate that on the 6th of February 1840 the Maori became part of the British Empire. There are many debates about the events that happened afterwards and the different translations of the treaty, because afterwards people were still being dicks to one another, it just happened to be "legal"now. This year was the first year when there were not significant complaints by major Maori figures, and the young people are seeing it as the holiday to celebrate the Maori people.

So, having woken up late, prepared late, left late, I eventually traveled north to go to Taupo, the north islands giant central lake. On the 21st I will be part of my practice's team doing a relay around the lake, so will tell you more about the area after that.

Near Taupo I visited Craters of the Moon:
http://youtu.be/8KBl6MK9VpM

And the Huka Falls, which is a large waterfall draining Lake Taupo

I stayed over night in my wee cheap tent at NZ's largest free camping spot. Its known to be noisy, but I thought I'd pitch out the way, until a large group of backpakers and Maoris arrived to talk until 1am. At first it annoyed my, as I was tired, but after having a decent nap for an hour that evening it was entertaining to listen to a big fat Maori guy trying desperately to chat up any backpacker who'd listen to him. 

SATURDAY

I climbed the Rainbow Mountain, at the top of which I met a guy who works at the top with a telescope watching out for wild fires in the local forests. Nice guy, invites people to come up to his watch tower and see the views, whilst offering a cool glass of water. He look pictures of everyone who came and puts them up on a Facebook page (that I presently can't find, but will post if/when I do). 

On the way down I visited the Emerald Pool, where I talked to a couple visiting from Sheffield, and we took pictures for each other.

I visited a place called "Mud Pool"... which is a mud pool, but geothermal!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv9hmZomUec&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=399FYkMk3YY&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXuzTYt2Bwk&feature=youtu.be


I hadn't particularly planned on it, with the heat etc., but people suggested I go down to Kerosene Creek- a local hot pool out in the forests. The river is all warm, with a wide pool created by a slowly moving (due to erosion) waterfall which is a nice Goldilocks temperature. It is surrounded by beautiful forest, and there are a number of small spots along the river for smaller groups. The only down side is the smell- there is significant Sulfur in the water causing a smell that did remind me of the oil and fuel at vintage tractor shows- hence the name of the creek. The place is lovely, but it took me 3 days, 3 showers, 4 lakes, and 2 hours in non-smelly hot pools before I could get the whiff out of my skin.
Oh, and the other down side is the warning sign about the amoebic meningitis. Don't put your head in the water. It will kill you.

After this I went in search of a proper pool to try clean out the smell. I visited Waikite Valley Thermal Pools- a highly recommended site that I'll tell you much more about later. I wish it was closer to home. Utterly amazing place to go to.

http://www.hotpools.co.nz/

Saturday and Sunday evening I stayed with a vet couple from the UK. It was Amy, one of the vets working at the Edinburgh Dick Vet Farm Department that put me in touch with them. Jules and here husband Gus had spent a year in NZ working as vets, before returning home, working for a while longer, then relocating to northern NZ. Jules is a small animal vet and Gus is a farm vet, so we had plenty to talk about and I had a lot to learn from them. Amazingly wonderful people, great to talk to and lovely hosts.

SUNDAY

Sunday was lakes day, with a minor interlude to watch some people try to raft down the local rapids. (If you come to NZ we MUST do this- looks great fun)

I started with a quick stop at the side of Lake Rotorua

I then spent an hour on a walk that should take 15 minutes- but there was too much to see in just 15 mins! The Okere Falls were the site of NZ's first hydroelectric dam. Since then the dam has been destroyed, then excavated and removed to become an exhibit, and the falls returned to a more natural state. Leaving a place perfect for tourists to try out white water rafting (if they can stay on the raft) surrounded by beautiful high cliff over hung by the tropical forest.

After this I went to Lake Rotoiti, Lake Okataina, and Lake Tarawera, having a quick swim in each of them, and the odd walk/jog in the forests. Given the amount of people about its surprisingly simple to find your own personal, private, beach.

Rotoiti

My private beach at Lake Okataina (beyond the brush was a large area of sand)

The boat landing site at Lake Tarawera

After all this swimming I went to see the local tourist info site and managed to get permission to drive down and see the Tarawera falls. I'll let me explain in the video:

http://youtu.be/K9GQq1Ar-3s

That evening I also spotted this "little"chap - some sort of very flat but large cockroach-thing

MONDAY

Due to having worked a previous weekend I was able to get Monday off, so I could steadily drive home. Or madly rush to see more stuff.

I visited the other end of Lake Tarawera

 Found a Maori monument to a dead chief- such great men are remembered by burying their canoe end in the earth to create a tall obelisk, which then has extra decoration added to it.

 I went past what looks to be an interesting museum. Akin to Pompeii but looking like Beamish, the Buried Village was a settlement built near tourist attractions about 100 years ago. These attractions were based on the geothermal activity, which eventually exploded and buried the village. This has left a site where everything was preserved by mud, to later be uncovered and now on display so that one can learn about the earliest travelers to NZ. I didn't have enough time to see inside, but hopefully if anyone with a Beamish bent wants to visit we can go see this- and the old Gold Mine site further North-West that I didn't have time to go visit.

A cool monument I found celebrating the Maori people's work to share their glorious land with tourists.

The Blue and the Green Lakes

 Finally I had a quick stop in the Redwood forest- which became an hour. The redwood trees originally came from North America to make a new timber trade for NZ. This are, however, was kept as a tourist attraction and is filled with routes for people walking, riding, and mountain biking.

As well as the redwoods, a number of the local fern trees have found a home here.

Tree. Big.

Found a cool little lagoon in the forest

These are the toilets. There were designed by an artist to disguise the facilities, using rusted steel with Maori art designs drilled in. Seems odd to say the toilets look nice, but they do.

Leaving Rotorua, near Taupo I visited the site of a large hydroelectic dam where 5 times a day part of the dam is opened to keep a stretch of the river "alive". The water level rises and little falls grow into torrents.

The place is great for a little walk, with lovely views of the valley.

I also found, around a corner, down an old abandoned roadway, some free food:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152789134606977&l=9185868384146794295

Eventually I got a shot of Lake Taupo (sort of, better ones after next weekend)

Then I went to the Army Museum on the way back - didn't have time for the full tour, will do more another time- but they do have lots of tanks and artillery in the car park. I'll post all those photos later.

And I was home in time to repack the ute with vet stuff, unload the exploring stuff, clean some clothes, have Yorkshire Tea, and get a rest before work.

So... that's the short version. I'll try, when I have time, to give more details on the best stuff I saw.

Phew, time for a brew