Day Sixteen – Tauranga and Rotorua

After a quiet nights sailing we arrived at 9.00 in Tauranga, in the heart of The Bay of Plenty region.  We had booked a trip today which didn’t depart until 11.00am ,so had a leisurely breakfast and a game of table tennis before leaving. The coach took us through the countryside before arriving in Rotorua around an hour later. This is a very touristy town due to the geo-thermal springs that abound in the area.

The highlight of the trip was the visit to a Maori village, which commenced with the traditional “Wero” or challenge. Prior to arriving at the site the coach had to select a chief to represent us. It was suggested by the guide that only a “real man” should apply, his definition of a “real man” being someone who plays rugby!!! It was no good me applying. The chiefs were challenged by the Maori warriors before being given a peace offering. The ladies of the tribe then sang to allow us into the village.

After wandering through the village we were treated to a Maori show, with songs and music representing their culture. The Maoris arrived in New Zealand, or the Land of the Long White Cloud (Aotearoa) as they knew it,from Tahiti only about 1000 years ago. We then retired to the dining room to enjoy a meal baked in the traditional Maori way.

Rotorua was originally inhabited by the Maori people because of the hot water and steam produced by the volcanic action. This allowed them to bathe and cook for free. All the houses even today rely on this form of heating. The smell of sulphur or rotten eggs fills the air, and hot mud baths or geysers spring up everywhere.

The other product that this area is famous for producing is the kiwifruit and everywhere we travelled today this was apparent. The kiwifruit grows on a vine, a little like a grape vine. They are harvested before they are ripe when their sugar content reaches a determined level and then stored refrigerated at about 1c. They can be stored at this temperature for several months before being slowly warmed to ripen.

With extra stops added the trip took longer than anticipated and we arrived back at the ship at 5.45.This was  a little late to get ready for dinner so we ate for the first time in an evening in the Windjammer. Our room attendant never fails with his towel animals and was quite pleased when I told him they are appearing on the internet each night. Tonight is was a turtle or tortoise.