Kiwi Encounter! Friday 11/25/16

Near Rotarua we made our way via coach to Rainbow Springs Kiwi Wildlife Park. It was a misty kind of morning, but that's why rain jackets were invented, and the clouds lifted while we were inside. Our group had a 9 am guided visit to the Kiwi Encounter, and we were the first visitors. Helen was our guide.  She'd been with Kiwi Park for many years and she was excellent.  Oh my, were we the lucky ones ... first in the nursery and hatchery, too. No photos were allowed at the nursery window BECAUSE a four-day-old chick was being weighed in front of our eyes -- it held stock-still in a young lady staff worker's hands, the cutest little puff ball you've ever seen. Next came a 14-day-old chick on the "baby scales" and it, too, froze in place. CJ, a one-month-oldster was last, and he was to leave the nursery today and into an outdoor run. CJ was brought out into the visitor room and was held inches away for all to see. Talk about up close! Very, very special.

In the "indoor run," darkened for these nocturnal birds, we watched a feisty 38-year-old lady Kiwi named "Te Kaha" stalking through the undergrowth, and Pie and Thistle on the opposite side of the walkway (woohoo, boy and girl).  Rainbow Springs has hatched and released 1600 chicks into the wild, a terrific number for a bird gone nearly extinct, 67 this season alone.  The header bird isn't alive, of course, but we were very fortunate to see babes and adults this morning!

They show other birds, water fowl, and fish, and it's a great place to visit.

Gorgeous parrot.

Biggest and prettiest rainbow trout we've ever seen!

New Zealand Scaup, female and male.

On our way to Rotarua Domestic Airport (also cute and little) and because we had loads of time, our excellent coach driver stopped in a Redwood grove, which amazed all of us, simply because we had no idea Sequoia Sempervirens existed in New Zealand.  Above, Bernice, Ibby and Jimmy prove that they do.

A lovely silver fern front marking the path in the grove.

The tree ferns are gigantic, like so much of what we see Downunder.

We transferred to the airport at 10:30 for our flight to the South Island -- shaky Christchurch, to be exact -- departing at 12Noon, but a very nice packed lunch was provided beforehand.  So, off we go to more adventure!

Three for Three! Thursday 11/24/16

(... a continuation from my previous post)

Never in my wildest imagination would I have presumed to see the three known Old Faithful geysers in the world.  The first, and largest, of course, is in Wyoming's Yellowstone Nat'l Park, which we've watched blow sky high several different times.  The second, and smallest Old Faithful, we sort of accidentally discovered in Calistoga, right north of us in California!  It surprised us to know the durn thing existed.  Then, we learned a third Old Faithful could be found in New Zealand ... and I may have made a flip remark about going there to check it off the list.  Lo and Behold -- here we are!  Life delivers some amazing turns and surprises.

We traveled from our morning adventure to Te Puia -- the geothermal valley -- as well as a center for Māori cultural experiences. We walked the geyser boardwalk, visited Māori Arts and Crafts, pigged out at a traditional mouth watering banquet of authentic Māori cuisine (kai) Hangi style, including New Zealand mussels, corn on the cob, flavored meats, chicken, lamb, vegetables and salads. And entertainment!

Whakarewarewa Geyser Terrace (do not ask me to pronounce that word) in the Rotarua area is where Old Faithful (Pōhutu) spurts. It's the largest active geyser in the Southern Hemisphere.  Pōhutu means "Big Splash,"  It erupts once or twice every hour, up to approximately 90 feet.  We saw it when it was just finishing it's Big Splash.

The Blueys Pool, has highly alkaline water, and a water temp usually between 30C and 50C (86-122 Fahrenheit), and it's still a favorite swimming hole for descendants of the original inhabitants.  I'd call it a giant hot tub!

I'm determined to get a decent photo of the melodious Tui bird,
the guy with the butler look.

Boiling mud pots look icky!

Interesting read.

A lovely skirt (or apron) made of New Zealand Flax, from arts and crafts school.

Cooked in the ground, traditional style, and truly delicious, every bit of it, we ate and ate.  Dessert, too.  I have a feeling none of us on this trip is going to be losing weight!

But the entertainment came before food.

A marvelous show.

Oh yeah, let's eat!

Honestly, these chocolate-covered creme puffs were to die for.

Never mind how many I ate (but it was legendary, I think!).

A short-sleeve day in Rotarua 11/24/16

We spent a not-too-comfortable night at the Copthorne Hotel because we couldn't get our room cool enough, but we managed.  Every place we stop has a different configuration for the heating/cooling, and obviously we didn't figure this one out.  Or, perhaps the A/C didn't work at night.  Up and atem anyway, and on our coach at the early hour of 8am to Waimangu Valley.  Where's that, you ask? Southeast of Rotorua and one of its premier attractions, Waimangu Volcanic Valley, was created by Mount Tarawera's 1886 eruption that destroyed the world-famous Pink and White Terraces.  Look that up yourselves, it's interesting.

A misty morning getaway.

Our first destination was a boat trip on Lake Rotomahana to see various geothermal sites. The lake was like glass, and we were sure the early morning clouds would evaporate, but we needed our jackets on for the boat ride.

Black Swans, reintroduced from Australia in the 1860's, made for a lovely lake scene.

Nope, the trees aren't on fire.

Stinky steam rises from one of many geothermal vents seen along the 2,000-acre lake.

Albert, our intrepid guide, is a joy to have around.

Who expected to see an Australian Coot (Fulica atra australis) on the lake?

Not me.

After our boat ride, we picked up a new guide, named Matt, for our long hike.  He was full of information and show 'n tell for a young guy, really expert on many levels.  And -- good news -- it was a downhill hike, where our coach awaited at the end for the ride back to the top!

Inferno Crater - hot, hot, hot!

Endemic New Zealand Tree Ferns rise to incredible heights.  New Zealand has so many ferns of all sizes from wee to these tall guys, including the Silver Fern (or Ponga), named for its silvery undersides (and the national symbol of NZ). 

Gang's all here!  What a great group!

White star-shaped Manuka tree blossoms are honey-makers for bees in springtime.

These trees are widespread on both North and South Islands (and the honey is expensive).

At Echo Crater.  Stay on the path!

It was a terrific hike, albeit a little (whew!) warm.

* * * * * * * *

We transferred back into Rotorua for lunch at Princes Gate Hotel, and as soon as lunch was finished, we wandered across the road to explore the Government Gardens.  That was fun, too!  Their flower beds were outstanding.  BTW, crossing roads here is a challenge.  We're told every day to look both ways (like children), because the vehicles we think are coming this way, aren't ... they're going that way.  So far, no one has been run over! (insert smiley face!)

At the gardens we spotted this magnificent "sun dog" -- and it even had a double!

 Garrett, Linda, Ibby, Bernice and Jimmy in Government Gardens.

Look at that tree in the background. 

The ladies playing croquet ... a throw-back in time for many of us Americans.

Wonderful old building at back.

Pukeko is the New Zealand name for the purple swamphen, a goofy-looking bird.  It had big chicken feet.  Didn't expect to see one, but here it is!  After this, we hopped back on the bus (travelers, not tourists, you know) to Te Puia, the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, but that's for another post.  It was a grand day, so far!

Hittin' the Road - Wednesday, 11/23/16

After four days in the big city, it was time for us to travel south ... in our very comfortable coach to Rotarua.  It didn't take too long to leave urban Auckland behind for the quieter roads to our first stop: the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, something we'd been looking forward to.  Traveling through the green countryside was pleasant, and Albert's commentary as we rolled along kept us informed and entertained.  (We're having jolly good fun.)

We're still on New Zealand's North Island,
but working our way south through a lush green landscape.

A Māori roadside "totem."

Just about the time you need a bathroom break, the coach pulls into a toilet stop.  Believe it or not, often we see interesting sights at these spots.  Some of them are printable!

Now we all know where the woman's room is.

We had the nicest lunch on the patio at Roselands, a garden restaurant close to Waitomo. Situated on 20 acres of rolling hills, Roselands has all manner of critters, including this little pony, above.  Native trees and flowers abound on their land.  Jimmy and I picked the right time to be in the Southern Hemisphere, because late spring means heaps of color.

Rhodies so gigantic they're trees, with flowers the size of dinner plates.

After lunch, we continued on to the Glowworm Caves.  When we entered the cave, we had a great guide walk us through an area of stalactites and stalagmites.  She told us about the caves' discovery and everything glowworm, life cycle, etc., as we worked our way down to the water.  Before we left California, I Googled the caves and had a pretty good idea what we'd see, but I was unprepared for the depth of emotion I felt as we entered the glowworm domain.  It was magical.  It was spiritual.  It was special.  My eyes watered.

We boarded a small boat to tour a short way through the dark cave, lit only by hundreds and hundreds of tiny blue lights glowing high above our heads (but not too high).  No one spoke, except for perhaps a hushed, "wow!"  No cameras or photos were allowed, to protect the glowworm environment, so I can't show you the beauty.  It truly was a WOW experience.

Before we entered the caves, we posed for a group photo.  We number 22, plus Albert, but that number will lower as we dip to the South Island.  Jimmy is toward the left and I'm on the right.

Where we disembarked the tour boat.

Our coach driver, Gavin, a right good fella, stopped the bus so I could take a picture of this wall in Otorohanga -- all things kiwi.

Can you tell we're in New Zealand?

Albert said, "Wait till you see the millions of sheep on South Island!"

Oh, yeah, after checking into our hotel in Rotorua and finishing dinner, out came the obligatory birthday cake to celebrate my (mumble mumble) birthday!  Everyone sang the song and wished me a happy one. Isn't this a nice thing to do?  Someone asked me later if I gave a speech.  I said, "Heck no, not with cake in front of me!"

It's very warm in Rotoroa, a hotbed of geothermal energy!  Pun intended.