We had a bit of a chilled out day at Mary and Steve's, watched a couple of films. Then in the evening we went to Lil's Uncle Ross's and Auntie Jenny's for dinner. We borrowed the car again and managed to get ourselves there with a map Steve drew for us! We had proper NZ cooked corned beef again, it was really nice! It was crazy though, they have 14 cats!!
Friday 26 June
We packed up our bags again. I now have an extra drawstring bag that I clip on in the space where the sleeping bag is ment to hang on the outside! The bag is gradually expanding!! Steve then drove us half way to Tauranga to meet Cousin Steve. We then went back to Steve's (cousin Steve) where we're staying for a while. We met Rachel and their little boy Fergus, He's two and very cute! And also Charlie the boxer dog. They live in Papamoa in Tauranga.
Saturday 27 June
Steve and Rachel lent us their Ute (pickup truck) - again are they mad! It's a Manual tho so a bit easier to drive for us, but huge! Lil's drive I'm map reader! We went into the local town of Mount Maunganui and had a look around, we also had a really nice lunch! That night I read Fergus his bedtime story - cute!
Lil driving the Ute
Sunday 28 June
We had a real relaxed day as mosts things are shut on a sunday. We chilled out, watched a film and played with Fergus. We also planned out little trip to Rotorua.
Monday 29 June
We packed up the Ute with stuff for the night and drove to Rotorua - the town known for it's Moari heritage. We looked around the town and went to the Jade Factory, where they made the famous jade necklaces. I wanted one as a momento of the trip, and rotorua is the best place to get one, so lil got me one (bad luck to get it yourself). We were then booked in to a nightime Moari experience - Te Po. To start we had talks on the history and stories, and watched a show of traditional dance. Women were asked on stage to try dancing with a Poi (string with a soft ball at one end and tassle at the other). We were rubbish at Poi dancing! I couldnt even catch the ball and lil managed to drop
hers at one stange and also hit herself in the face with it!haha! The men then got asked to learn the Huka (traditional warrior dance - the NZ rugby team The All Blacks perform it before a game) it was really funny to watch!! We then had a traditional dinner cooked in a Hungy - underground hole heated by the natural geothermal steam. Rotorua has a lot of geothermal activity as it lies on a fault line, which mean its also had volcanoes, hot mud pools, etc. The dinner was lovely, we also had a bottle of wine and i had double helpigs of desert! They then took us outside to see the natural gesers erupt, it was so pretty at night with water shooting out everywhere, but no photos came out! They also gave us hot chocolate as we stood watching which was a nice touch. We then went back to our motel (on a free shuttle bus) and got in our spa! We put loads of bubble in and had the ipod up full blast singing along (well screeching really) to loads of songs!
hers at one stange and also hit herself in the face with it!haha! The men then got asked to learn the Huka (traditional warrior dance - the NZ rugby team The All Blacks perform it before a game) it was really funny to watch!! We then had a traditional dinner cooked in a Hungy - underground hole heated by the natural geothermal steam. Rotorua has a lot of geothermal activity as it lies on a fault line, which mean its also had volcanoes, hot mud pools, etc. The dinner was lovely, we also had a bottle of wine and i had double helpigs of desert! They then took us outside to see the natural gesers erupt, it was so pretty at night with water shooting out everywhere, but no photos came out! They also gave us hot chocolate as we stood watching which was a nice touch. We then went back to our motel (on a free shuttle bus) and got in our spa! We put loads of bubble in and had the ipod up full blast singing along (well screeching really) to loads of songs!
Moari women Poi dancing (Lil just told me it might be Pois)- how it's meant to be done!
The Huka
Us on the cart to the geysers doing our huka faces! (After wine!)
In the spa bath with our Santa bubble beards!
Tuesday 30 June
With our Te Po night experience we also got a deal for free entry to Hells Gate. Full of natural hot springs and mud pools. Was really interesting, like walking around another planet - so strange. Couldnt touch any of the mud tho as most of it is above boiling point. Got some great photos, really seen nothing like it before. Can't imagine what it would be like to be the first person to find one!! We then got to do some free Moari carvings, which was fun but quite hard to do well! We then had some Kumura chips for lunch - NZ sweet potato - they were lovely! As it was pouring with rain we decided to do something indoors so went to Rotorua Museum and had a tour. They had a gret Moari exhibition on, was really interesting. At the end we had to dip our fingers in water and flick it over our shoulders to stop the spirits following us out!We then made our way back to Steve and Rachels and bought them takeaway noodles for dinner! (in a box again!!!)
One of many great photos of Hells gate - took with my big camera
The Moari who helped with our wood carvings - with traditional face markings
Me outside the Rotorua Museum (in the rain - lil took the pic from inside the car!)
Wednesday 1 July
In the morning we watched Fergus for an hour. He did a poo almost straight away! Lil changed him - was soo funny! She says she much prefers dealing with dog poo - crazy girl!We then went to Kiwi 360 - a tour of Kiwi orchard. Was quite interesting, plus got tasters which was great!We then went to see Transformers 2 with Steve, he really wanted to see it and Rachel doesnt like it so we went with him! We then had Lils Cousin Rachel (another rachel) over for dinner in the evening.
Us outside the kiwi place
Leaving NZ soon and off to Aus. Had a great time in NZ, hope Aus is as good! Dont think the scenery will quite match up!
speak soon, H xx
Oh wow you two, you have done so much and had a load of fun along the way. It wont be long now and it will be all so new and exciting. I bet you will be so pleased to get some warm weather as well. Fear no more couches for a bit tho Hollie!
ReplyDeleteYoure completely at home in that Ute Libby, forget Lotus Elise now eh! Your pictures and commentary are great Hollie, especially the Haka faces! You'd have had to have some wine to show them to the world!!That ipod comes in handy eh Libby especially in tubs! Loads of love and thanks Hollie xxxxxx