Wednesday 9th February

Wednesday 9^th February

We woke at 05.45 ready for another early start and realised that we were working on 0630 quoted for breakfast instead of 0630 for early call!  Oh well, we were in time to choose front seats on the coach. 

The weather was rather damp and overcast when we started.  Nevertheless, we had a reasonable view from the top of the dormant volcano overlooking Auckland; very small in comparison with Vesuvius.  It was here our driver was checked by the police for safety of the coach, her documentation and her log of driving hours.  Luckily she passed the test at 100 per cent and we were on our way.  We followed the motorway SSE for some distance before stopping at a services for coffee where Ian managed to photo a myna bird.  These are slightly larger than a blackbird but far more numerous.

A short time later we turned South towards Waitomo.  Here we had to wait some time as we had to compete with a large number of tourists off some cruise boats before entering some limestone caves.  As caves, these were not a patch on those we saw in Slovenia.  However, it was worth it for the main attraction: thousands of glowworms on the roof which gave the impression of stars in the night sky.  Photography was not allowed in the caves as we had to get our eyes accustomed to very low light levels before the chamber (on a boat in complete darkness) with the glowworms.

The weather had cleared up by the time we emerged and after a short journey we stopped for a late lunch.  Here we saw some Maori totem poles depicting some of the local tribes and took advantage of some toilets decorated with ceramic tiles depicting NZ emblems and wildlife.

A further coach ride took us through some volcanic countryside before dropping down into the crater or Rotorua.  As we were now running rather late we had a short turn-round time at our hotel before getting back on another coach at 1800 to take us to an authentic Maori village.   Here we were greeted by some Maoris in traditional dress in a historic ceremony including a Haka and a Hongi. 

We were then led into the village and shown crafts and skills. decorated wooden houses (huts) and the methods of cooking a Hangi before experiencing a show of Maori music, songs and displays in a meeting house.  This was really professional! 

We were then taken into a hall to eat the Hangi: loads of tasty food which, we were told, included Opossum!  Our driver for the short journey back into Rotorua was one of our Maori hosts and he led some “community singing” with each nation represented on the bus having to sing something appropriate.  We and 2 other coaches finished up going 3 times round a roundabout in Rotorua singing “She’ll be coming round the mountain when she comes” before being dropped off back at our hotel.  A thoroughly enjoyable evening!