Rotarua

 This is a spring that feeds quite a large stream at night the glow worms are reflected in the water. You can see why it was thought it was sacred.

The ladies of the Mitai tribe

 The poi dances were brilliant and for some of the songs at least the language barrier was not really a problem sometimes actions speak louder than words.

This lady was an amzing singer and her voice filled the area.

 

Steamy mud mmmm lovely smells of rotten eggs

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 All the hot pools kind of smelled of rotten eggs which you got used to after a while people used to bathe in these because the water was warm and meant to have healing properties. However the gases made people pass out and drown occasionally so not so healthy.

 This carving was donated in 1908 to commemorate the gift of the park by the Maori tribe that owned it.

Yes a bowling green in New Zealand

 This is one of the oldest buildings in New Zealand and it is listed it was the first Building purely built to cater for tourists coming to the healing pools, some of which turned you brown.

The layers of sulphur on sulphur lakes

The birds on sulphur lake are protected in this area as they are in a reserve. However the water is so acidic they have to grow extra webbing between their toes to protect their feet from the sulphuric acid produced when the sulphur mixes with the lake water. No fish can live in this area of Lake Rotorua so they can't feed there. Not entirely sure why they live there.

The charred wood comes from the sulphuric acid burning the wood.

Aaaaaaaahhhhh

Big splash I was at the front we got very wet

Me with the all black Kiwi

The last few days I have been in Rotarua and it is a lovely place the hostel especially was fantastic. I've seen sulphur pools, bubbling springs, glowworms, been in an advert, seen gorgeous Kiwis, dipped my toes in hot pools and seen a traditional Maori Hacka all in all a busy two days and I don't feel I've seen everything this is definately a place to come back to.