Rotarua - November 2

Rotarua/Tauranga - November 2

Once again, we searched tripadvisor for someone who could give us a tour including many of the sights of the area. We settled on Grumpy Ed (www.grumpyslimo.com).

We met Grumpy right where he had said and instantly liked him!
When we asked how in the world he'd come by the nickname "Grumpy" he told us his mom had very light hair - almost white - and was dubbed "Snow White" by her relatives. When she married, she determined she'd have seven children (which she did) and she'd nickname them for the seven dwarfs! So Grumpy's siblings include, Doc, Happy, Sneezy, Sleepy, Dopey, and Bashful!

Taurunga, where the ship docked, is a tourist center and would be an interesting tour in it's own right - but we were more focused on Rotarua - the Hot Springs of New Zealand.

As we entered Rotarua, we quickly learned that the area is arranged in a series of small, yet contiguous communities.

We passed a kiwi farm with a reception center and Grumpy asked if we'd like to stop

The sign reflects that there are two main varieties of kiwi - the green and gold

Kiwi grow on vines

And are extremely sensitive to freezing

As a result, the groves have extremely high hedges around them to protect the fragile kiwi

Inside, we headed for the tasting bar

In addition to kiwi samples - they also had kiwi wine!

Grumpy, Theresa, Bill, & Peggy

Theresa prepares to toss back some kiwi liqueur

Bob was excited to see that they had used unglazed field tile as a wine rack - just like our at home!

Grumpy drove a Toyota mini-van but not one seen in the US. There is a thriving market in New Zealand for used vehicles imported from Japan where every five years they have a required vehicle inspection that is so strict most Japanese opt to trade their cars in rather than pay for all the stuff needed to pass inspection!

We then visited Okere Falls - famous as a tourist stop for decades as documented in these posters

Along the path, we past this old rusty remnant of a water power turbine

We could hear the river in the distance and eventually caught a glimpse

A pleasant walk through the woods

With a fern palm along the way - note the delicate fern like leaves

and a glimpse of a relatively rare bird - a Kereru, a native wood pigeon

Eventually, we reached an overlook for the falls

A photographer showed up alerting us to a raft about to descend

Here you see a yellow kayak (the "pathfinder" guide) as it descends

And waits for the raft

After a lengthy safety reminder (apparently these rafts often capsize, back over front), the raft starts down

Emerging top side up!

The rafters ham it up for their photographer!

A short walk took us to a set of steps down to a cave - also a popular place to visit for decades

The cave, in all honesty, is not all that fabulous, but it is neat!

A short drive took us alongside the small lake - in Maori, Rotoiti

We stopped at a small resort complete with Maori totem

And time share condos

In a little while, Rotorua - Maori for "the second lake" came into view

Sulfur smell is in the air and we drove to Arikiroa - Sulfur flats

Where the heated subterranean is evident by the steam rising

After another short drive, we arrived at this bubbling caldron of hot mud adjacent to the Rotorua Museum

We knew we'd chosen well when the driver of the "Duck" touring the town said over his loudspeaker "Everyone say hi to Grumpy!"

The museum has a huge lawn and drive and is a most impressive building . . .

. . . complete with statuary . . .

. . . and flowers

This Maori canoe is on display

Nearby is a large park that contains many spots that have broken through with hot mud or gasses & water

This tree benefits from the heat - at least half of it does!

A few blocks away, back on the shores of Rotorua we passed St Michael's Catholic Church - with its own hot bath in the back!

As well as a Maori lodge (left) and an Anglican church

We stopped for lunch at this nice little restaurant right on the shore

Sculptures abound

Bob got to finally try a "meat pie" with beef and mushrooms

While Theresa had a sausage roll and quiche

Grumpy and his Grumpettes!

The view from the restaurant

A stern-wheeler was just pulling out for a tour of the lake

We again spotted some Black Swans with their cygnets

This utility cover in the walk reflects the completeness with which they embrace the waterfowl!

As we drove, Peggy proclaimed "Bill, there's the Masonic Hall!"

Grumpy asked if we'd like to see it, so we did. We learned from the photos, that "Grumpy" is a Past Master of this Lodge

Just down the street is this former Post Office now used as a home to shops

This is a popular tourist destination with thermal springs and a geyser. Grumpy suggested an alternative - with no entry fee!

Just down the street were these huge molten mud pools that are actually part of a local golf course. Just as impressive as anything in the commercial park but with no entry fee. (A ball hit in here is unplayable since the water temp here is over 200 degrees!!)

Another short drive took us to Lake Tarawera, the largest of a series of lakes which surround the volcano Mount Tarawera

We stopped at a launch ramp and saw some additional wildlife - here some Blue Herons

Here another swan with cygnet

This house belongs to a friend of Grumpy's and is on the market - expected to bring $1M or so (Of course, that's NZ dollars - in US, you could probably get it for on $800K!)

We stopped at another spot and walked back into the woods

This carved stone reflects Maori influence

Our reward for the walk was this stunning view across the lake to Mount Tarawera!

Maori art was mainly in carvings so this painted rock is unusual and relatively rare

It depicts a war canoe

Now there's a "climbing tree" if I ever saw one!

A few miles back toward town, we stopped at an overlook where we could see two lakes . . .

. . . Blue Lake - a popular resort lake . . .

. . . and Green Lake - a protected lake only accessible by Maori

This magpie was interested in us only to the extent we had something to eat!

Grumpy showed us this Koru or silver fern, a plant that curls tightly at the end and slowly unfurls as it matures - another symbol of New Zealand

We stopped in the parking lot of the park we'd bypassed, hoping the geyser would be "going off" and sure enough, it was!

We felt a little like the kids looking through the fence at a baseball game, but what the heck!

After a great day, we reluctantly bid adieu to Grumpy.
He treated us more like visiting family than clients. The difference is subtle but real. This was without doubt one of our best tours of our voyage! Thanks Grumpy!

We  headed back to the ship where we were entertained by a duet of piano and violin

Tomorrow - Auckland