Saturday 25 November 2017

Don't leave Town until you have seen your Country!!!

So many people never travel around the country they live in or check out the local attractions, but choose to travel abroad, stand in ques, and pay the big bucks that tourist attractions cost.  I have not been out of New Zealand and probably will never get around to doing so.  My travel is done via books and fantastic things I watch on the good old reliable TV from the comfort of my lounge. Suits me fine.  I am not against people traveling, I admire them, I just haven't done it.  Anyway, I digress.  This week I was taken to Rotorua and hour and a half drive south from Hamilton by my youngest son as he was off work. 


He suggested we go to Rotorua and do the Treewalk, who was I to argue about a day out with my gorgeous son.

The Redwoods Treewalk is nothing short of beautiful, all those spectacular tall Redwood trees.  Even the Loos (top right photo) were bloody wicked!

 
So this is the tower you climb to the first platform.  The man taking our tickets said "only two rules, no running or jumping".  To which I replied "Do I look like a runner or jumper?".  He laughed saying you just cannot tell these days.  So up we climbed.

Ok so at this point I shall say that I am not overly keen on being up high so this was always going to be a test for me.  But I was determined to attack this head on!!  The moving sensation when walking across the swing bridges wasn't as bad as I thought it would be or how high up I was, so it didn't take too long to get comfortable.  I was just glad we were pretty much on our own.  Tour buses were on their way.
 
Each swing bridge was a different length but all led to the safety of a platform. The David Trubridge designed lanterns were amazing and they light up for the night walk, might have to return to experience that one.

Every platform had things for you to read so always something interesting to discover.  The builder son was fascinated. 
 
This platform looked like a new addition and I just had to scale the stairs that moved to check it out. The views were stunning and all you could hear were the sounds of Nature.

I could not bring myself to stand on the Glass Floor, and going back down the stairs was interesting! The whole 'Don't Look Down' thing and all.
 
With a quick selfie in the tree tops with my son we continued on.  Below us were tracks where you can go on a walk.  We saw numerous people doing this, some with their dogs on leads, and you can even do a bike ride.  All of those activities are FREE!!


We crossed the last swing bridge to return to the starting point, the tower.  I personally think it was well worth the $25 to walk among the trees for over half a kilometer.  So very glad we did this, and very keen to return and do the night walk now.


Next time tho I will go dressed as Little Red you know who and lurk about in those magnificent trees!!!!

As we were so close my son suggested we drive to The Blue Lake for a look.  So pretty, and believe it or not there were young people swimming!!

The water was so clear you could see the Duck legs paddling.  The bottom right photo is on the drive back to Rotorua where we stopped for some lunch.

Near the Hospital you can go to Kuirau Park which just happens to be FREE so we decided, WHY NOT!! The smell of sulphur is evident but not too strong when we were there.  Although you could let a sneaky bit of wind loose and no one would know!!

There are tracks and board walks you can wander about on and marvel at the steam that rises above the pools of geothermal activity happening in the water.


I think this would be a good thing to do on a cool Winter day as it is reasonably warm to be near.  Our day was Hot and Sunny, a beautiful day. 


We then decided we may as well go pay to see some Geothermal Wonder which just happens to be at Te Puia.  Both of us have been here before but years ago.  So it was time to mingle with the Tourists that were there by the Bus load and do it!!  

For a Tourists they charge $54!!  But for us NZers with a flash of our drivers license the price goes down to $38.  Some will say this is still expensive but how often do we visit the local attractions? This is Whatitoka Waharoa, the gateway.

Our first stop was the Whakarewarewa Geyser Terrace

Pohutu Geyser was doing it's thing!!
Apparently Pohutu means constant splashing in Maori.


 The information boards are always handy!!

It is quite the walk, passing Native Bush, The Te Puia Pa (top left) which is a historical and sacred site as it housed Maori for hundreds of years.  Over raging water and along winding paths we went.


 A much needed rest stop for me with this guy!


The Waka (boat) was so intricately carved.  You can visit the Carving School where trainees from around NZ are taught and guided by the skills of the Tohunga Whakairo, the Master Carvers.  I love the fact that these traditions are not lost.  We didn't visit tho.


 Another very informative board!


Pikirangi Village is a reconstructed historical village that you can wander around.  The guide information says 'this gives you the feel for how the Maori lived before the arrival of the European'.


Our next stop was to go inside the Kiwi House, where you are in pitch black darkness!!  We followed the dimly lit had rail to the viewing part where once our eyes adjusted we actually saw a Kiw!!  Our countries Native Bird, a flightless little bugger that likes to only appear at night.
 
As you are not permitted to take photos I have stolen borrowed one off the old google images.  Thanks Google!!  Totally cute little bird but somewhat endangered so major breeding programs in on the go around our beautiful little country.  PHEW!!

We saw small pools of Bubbling Mud on our walk.  And what a walk it was.  For someone as un fit as myself I sure knew the next day that I had participated in some walking activities!!!  I don't have a FITBIT but my FATBITS were telling me lots!!!

Again I thought how this place would be best seen in Winter when it is cooler and the rainfall helps the viewing of the Mud Pools.  Not that I was disappointed at all.

Especially when we arrived at Nga mokai-a-Koko mud pool.  This large pool of boiling mud is named after a famous Chief of the original fortified settlement.  According to my guide it reminded him of the playful nature of children. The Maori name of the mud pool translates as 'the cherished ones of Koko'.

With one last look at the Geyser we climbed our way back up the pathways to the carpark.  We were in dire need of cooling refreshments for our drive home.


Thanks Jak for taking me and Thanks New Zealand for being such a gem in this world of conflict and ongoing unrest.  I encourage you where ever you are to visit the sites of significance in your country, be they free or not.  Play at being a tourist in your own place like me!!


Many a young New Zealander has felt this,
and most come home eventually.


So where shall I go next?
and
Will you come with me?

Tuesday 21 November 2017

Out and about in my little town.

We get a little mid week paper that is free and delivered that I always rummage through.  I find out all sorts of things that are going on in my little town.  Two things caught my eye so I just had to go check them out.

This new art installation is called 'Large Cloud'.  It was hoisted high up in the trees by some of the City Park Arborists down by the kids playground at Lake Rotoroa.  A group of 41 women called the 'Crochet Crew', from a face book group crocheted this amazing piece.

The white twine was donated, and at the end of summer when this gets taken down the twine will bio degrade as it is a twine used for gardening. 210 33x33cm squares make up this cloth, making it 10m long.  The day I went to see it, the wind was blowing like a bastard so it was floating about in the trees.  It looks amazing, so thanks to all those crocheting gals that put it together.

My next thing to check out was installed and unveiled on Armistice Day 11/11/2017 in Memorial Park. I love this park and ended up chatting to one of the gardeners for a while, thanking him for all the good work he and his team do at maintaining such a beautiful place.

This life sized 300kg Bronze horse statue was made by a former Defence Force Artist and commissioned by the Waikato Combined Equestrian Club.  I believe the raised the $220,00.00 it cost to make. The 'War Horse Memorial Monument' is in honor of the 8,000 horses sent to South Africa, and the 10,000 sent to WW1.  Only 1 from South Africa and 4 from WW1 returned. I hear that the Armistice Day service and unveiling was lovely, emotional, but beautiful.  I love the fact that the horse has been designed to be interactive as you can climb up and sit on it.  If I ever manage that I will let you know!!  Might need some steps!

Finally we have been getting some glorious days that end with stunning colourful sunsets.  This has meant more time outdoors enjoying the weather.


The girls have been doing their bit in the egg department so get to roam the garden in the afternoons as a reward!!
 

So much colour is flowering away, and the Sweet Peas are on overdrive.  I pick and they keep on flowering, the scent is divine.

 All the pets round here are living the dream.

You will find Big out the front of our place most days, happy to have his head scratched.  In the evening he retires indoors to the comfort of the couch.

My little old man Oscar basically mooches about and then sleeps.  He insists on being wrapped in a large towel after his bath!!

Sheba is happy as long as she has a toy and company, the most obliging dog ever who patiently sat while getting a make over into a tradesman dog!
 
Then of course their is Toebee, stalker of wild life and hammock lounging cat.

 
The garden is so green and lush at the moment.  I am looking forward to those summer days outside on the garden swing with a good book and a cold drink.

Quite a few years ago my dad built me an Avery that sits on the deck.  We haven't had any birds in it for a while now so I have filled it with potted colour.  I think he would approve.

Our front door is looking colourful, I have to water the flowers daily as they start to droop and I don't want to lose them.

 I collected some Granny Bonnet seeds today.

Work is busy, that end of year panic is starting to happen.  This time of the year the Festive decorations are in full swing.  I found these little beauties in a pre Christmas 50% off sale.  I am looking forward to bringing by pine tree indoors in December and decorating it. That is about as festive as I get, my tree!

 These two are still in love!

Big thinks it is such a Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh thing!!

I have been out to the movies twice lately, went and saw the film 'Maudie' which was really lovely.  I do like a movie based on fact, and she was quite the artistic character.  The second movie was 'Murder on the Orient Express', I rather enjoyed that to.  Of course there have been a few lunches out and some day trips.  Off on one tomorrow so you may well get another blog before the end of the month!!!!!!!!!!!!


***Bye for now!!***

Some wisdom for all your Northern Hemisphere peeps....

and for everyone...