Gisborne/Whakatane/Rotarua

These are more pictures taken in Gisborne in the Titrangie Reserve on Kaiti Hill.  I was having problems earlier so have to try a different tact.  Hopefully I will have more luck now, or I will be throwing this damn computer out the window.

Lots of these Towns by the ocean also have rivers running through them

The Towns are so lovely, even in fog.

New Zealand has a Tea Tree called Manuka and from it they make an oil and a honey.  We stopped at the factory and purchased some things, they are supposed to be particularly good for healing.  We all know about the healing properties of Tea Tree Oil, however, this is different, in that it doesn't smell the same.  A much more pleasant odor, must be due to the honey factor.

We had about 350 km to go to get to Whakatane, however, after driving for 7 1/2 hours, we didn't want to drive any more and it was getting dark so we stayed at Opitiki.  We found a little motel to spend the night.  Dalton went out for Chinese at a little take out place.  Actually, most of the places from which to purchase a meal is a take out place.  Some have a few tables but most do not.  There are some restaurants where you can have a sit down dinner, but they are few and far between.  Mostly in larger Cities.  Anyway, the food was really good and reasonably cheap.  

Next morning Dalton nearly drowned himself in the shower, the best one he has ever been in.  It was very strong, nearly blew him out the door.  When we were checking out, the Owner asked Dalton how he liked the shower.  I guess he had been getting lots of comments.  

We made it to Whakatane early the next day, the 11th.  It was raining, but not cold.  We stopped at the Tourist Information Centre (iSite) to find out what we would be missing if we didn't stay.  We wanted to take the boat to "White Island" which is volcanic, they take tours out dependent on the weather and the tides.  Unfortunately, with the rain we couldn't go.  We stayed at the Barrington Motor Lodge, a very nice place and thought we would try our luck the next day.  The weather cleared up in the afternoon but by then it was too late to do any tours.  The next morning the sun was out but the tours were not running.  Too much turbulence.  So we just drove around and took pictures of things of interest.

This is  statue of Lady Wairaka - she saved the canoe and all possessions of her father Toroa (the 1st Maori to land in New Zealand when she turned herself into a man by crying "Kia Whakatane au I ahau" which means "I will become a man", hence the name of the Town Whakatane...women were not allowed to paddle the canoes and theirs was heading out to sea by the tide and there was no one else around to help... What a girl...

Lots of Mauri poles around, Dalton was intrigued.

On the way to Rotarua I took some pictures of the areas that have been logged just to see how the landscape looks after being logged. It greens up very quickly.

We were in the car driving along, so it is slightly blurry, however, you can get the idea.

This is a shot to show how they trim the trees from the bottom up about 10-12' off the ground to let the light in, it helps with the growth.  They can have a tree ready for harvest in 25 years...

When we arrived in Rotarua we signed up for an evening tour.  We went to Te Puia for Te Po (an indigenous evening experience.  In was totally awesome.

Visitors are asked to assemble at the gateway of their fully carved traditional marae (the open area outside their home).  Dalton was picked from the group to be a chief.  He was challenged by a warrior, the warrior came running up with his challenge, he dropped a branch off of a fern at Dalton's feet, he was to pick up the fern and then we all followed into the house.  We took off our shoes and took our seats, the men in the front, lead by Dalton.  Dalton was then greeted by the rest of the "family" (all men, there were 4 of them) by touching noses.  (My camera wasn't quick enough to catch the act).  Once this was completed, the cultural program began.  It was very interesting.  Lots of fun.

This is the warrior that came out with the challenge, unfortunately that photo didn't turn out very well

The same warrior, this is just after the nose touching

This is our chief learning the haka (this is the challenge that the Mauri do prior to any competitive sport or altercation)

He is really getting into this...

After the program was complete, we moved into the dining room and had a fabulous dinner, some of it was traditional Mauri, however, I don't think chocolate covered cream puffs was on the menu back then.  The food was excellent, pork, chicken, lamb, sweet potatoes, potatoes, squash (pumpkin) sweet corn, eel, prawns, seafood chowder, smoked pumpkin soup, lots of salads.  It was a marvelous feast.   

After dinner we went out to see the awe inspiring Pohuto geyser.  It was pouring rain by this time and we weren't sure we were going to be able to see anything.  However, it didn't let us down.  They also provided delicious hot chocolate for the viewing.

This was the best I could do, but you can actually see it.  You can feel the heat coming up from the hot water flowing over the lava rock.  It is beautiful.

Dalton has gone golfing, it is a tournament that he was able to enter.  It has been raining on and off all morning.  I am waiting to be picked up to be taken to Hells Gate Waiora Spa.  A three hour experience I am really looking forward to.

When I left you last I was waiting to be picked up for my Spa experience at WaiOra Spa at Hells Gate, just out of Rotorua.  The driver was a half hour late so I had to play catch with the Motel Owner's Black Lab until he arrived (nice dog).

I was delivered safely to my destination where I went on a tour of the area prior to my pampering.

Boiling mud - it was pouring rain also.

The sign says it all.

The sulphur smell is very strong.

Lots of bubbling mud - right about now the battery died in my camera.

It's actually quite beautiful in its own way!

After my walk I was treated to my own mud bath, I had a room (outside) all to myself, where I sat in a vat of hot water with very silky, smooth mud to rub over myself.  I had to do it myself because Dalton was at the Golf Course... Anyway, I had 20 minutes there, it was really pleasant, very warm ( I chose warm rather than hot-I still have power surges so can't take too much heat). It actually does feel like your playing in silk.  The Mud found at Hells Gate is amongst the finest in the world and forms the base of the Alite range of beauty spa products.  When my 20 minutes was up, I had to go under a very cold shower, I was under it for quite awhile because there was lots of mud in my bathing suit that I was trying to get rid of.  The next step was a hot mineral pool, it was beautiful, there was a little cave where I could set to get out of the rain.  It really was a nice experience, however, it would have been nice to be able to share the experience instead of being by myself.   

My "Miri Miri" massage was very unique..practised for thousands of years Wai Ori is a total, full massage of body and spirit.  Beginning with a Karokia (prayer) the treatment is a revitalizing, rejuvenating experience which embraces one to the landscape and people of Tikitere.  The ultimate experience which closes with the sacred head and face massage before the final karakia.  I have to say, I really felt wonderful afterwords and even after my shower the next day, my skin still felt really soft and smooth.  If I lived at Rotorua I would be going back at least once a month.