New Zealand

During the first week of August, the last week of Jennifer's visit, we left the kids with Ian and flew off to Auckland, North Island, New Zealand.  It was a whirlwind tour, but we had an amazing time.  We arrived late at night, so we headed out first thing in the morning to drive to our first "destination" Rotorua.    We took the "scenic" route (in quotes, because I'm sure everything there would've been scenic) and really just followed signs and used a map and didn't have a set plan.

Along the way, one of the first places we saw was Karangahake.

The views here were positively breathtaking.  Unfortunately, it was getting late, so we couldn't do as long a walk as we would've liked.  We had a Maori experience to get to ...  For dinner, we went to a Maori village that has a replica of how early Maori tribes would've lived.  We got to walk through and ask questions, watch dancing and have a traditional meal, a Hangi.  

The traditional greeting at the entry to the village.

Bringing the Hangi out of the ground.

Traditional dancing.

Part of a Haka - the intimidating face.

On our way to our next destination (Lake Taupo), we detoured to Orakei Korako.  http://www.orakeikorako.co.nz/

Lake Ohakuri

Rainbow Terrace

 I thought the ferns mixed in with the pine trees, the hot springs and the cold temperatures was such a juxtaposition.  You can really see them in the picture of Jennifer.

Jennifer

Rainbow Valley

 At the Huka Falls, the Waikato River which is normally 100m wide, is squeezed through a 20 metre wide gorge and over a 20m drop. Every second up to 220,000 litres of water gushes through the gorge and shoots out over 8 metres beyond to create a beautiful blue/green pool.

The name Huka is the Maori word for 'foam', which is appropriate as the falling water and rapids certainly resembles foam, especially under flooding conditions.

Huka Falls

Craters of the Moon ('karapiti') is an active geothermal field. The terrain is filled with exposed steam vents and is constantly shifting, collapsing and reforming, giving an uninhabited appearance. Thermal mud pools bubble away and plants not normally native to the area thrive in this hot and partly noxious environment.

Craters of the Moon

Lake Taupo with Tongariro and Ngauruhoe Mountains in the background.

Our B&B - note the last statement :)

The B&B was gorgeous and it was at the highest point in Waitomo.  Hence the steep driveway.  We had one of our best meals at restaurant called HuHu, if you're ever in Waitomo do the caves and have dinner at HuHu and sleep at Abseil Inn. 

We spent our last full day in Auckland doing some Genealogy on Bidlakes and sightseeing with my friend, Ed.  (Another American living over on this side of the world for a few years.)  

Looking down into Mt. Eden (old volcano)  

 View of Auckland from the top of Mt Eden.