we decided to do a stomp round a bit of Rotorua lake before breakfast so headed over to the aptly named Sulphur Point for an interesting, but pongy, walk. we saw lots of rare birds who like to nest round there but i’ve forgotten what they are.
there was all sorts of interesting other stuff like ‘cameron’s laughing gas pool’. very apt for all the UK politicing at present perhaps ?
anyway, we made it to a lovely cafe for breakfast where we managed to get a discount as we had some vouchers. nice.
then it was off to Rainbow Springs which has loads of native birds and trees and things. And also rears young kiwis.
you weren’t allowed to take pictures in the kiwi hatchery area, but you can see some of the pictures of stuffed kiwis in the slide show down below. as part of the hatchery tour you get to go in to a room which has three kiwis in their little enclosures, so you can sit and watch them. they are quite amazing things. And the tour guide was really funny for his strange vocal quirks (ask Jane next time you Skype her!)
Rainbow Falls itself has a cold water spring under it and you get given a plastic bottle when you come in (if the lady remembers) so you can fill your own.
kezia improvised.
once we’d learnt all about trees and birds and things we then went up to the road to the nearby luge. everyone we know recommended that as a family activity so we had to do it.
there’s a couple of pictures in the slide show below but these were taken on the gondolas on the way up and down. we had two zoom downs each on the luges and all enjoyed it. although i didn’t particularly like the chair lifts that brought you back up from the bottom of the luge track
then we went home, had tea, and then went back to Rainbow Springs for the night opening. you probably can’t make it out as it moved, but here’s a kiwi sitting in front of the camera in the darkness in its outside pen (the ones from earlier in the day were inside).
then it was back home to our increasingly chilly accommodation as the nights were starting to get colder
i know you like looking at pictures of the girls, so here’s some of esther and kezia being amazed and laughing
here’s the slide show:
here’s an aerial view of the luge track