6 Nights in Rotorua

15 May 2009 -

We had an action packed seven days and six nights in Rotorua. Thursday morning, after picking up residents from Malvina Major Retirement Village, Richard our village bus driver picked us up and drove us to Rotorua. We stopped at Foxton for morning tea, Flat Hills for lunch, then stretched our legs at Huka Falls. We checked into Ventura Inn before heading to the Rotorua RSA for dinner that evening.

Friday: After breakfast, we did some sightseeing around Rotorua, stopping at St Faiths Church and Tamatekapua. After lunch, and some shopping, we headed to The Rotorua Museum of Art and History, where we saw the Summers Sculpture (purchased in 1908), the work of Australian sculpture Charle Summers. We also saw 'A group of Precious Women' the story of the Maori womens guides over 1000 years, as well as a short film about the Maori Battalion and the eruption of Mount Tarawerea. We admired the wonderful government gardens and finished off with a relaxing drink at the café. That evening was a lovely casual affair with most of us going to Valentines restaurant.

Saturday: We went to Redwoods Whakarewarewa forest and walking tracks. Some walked the hour-long track, while the others enjoyed a shorter 30 minute meander through the mighty Redwoods, planted in 1901. We saw a huge range of native plants and birds, as well as the old thermal pond. The trees are dedicated to the memory of the men and women of the New Zealand Forest Service who died in the two World Wars. After our lunch we headed off to see the beauty of the various lakes in the region, stopping at Lake Okareka for afternoon tea on the way back to the hotel. In the evening we went to The Kingsgate Hotel for a traditional kiwi meal and Maori show. Sue, Activities Coordinator, was chosen to participate in Poi and the audience was invited up on stage to participate in the haka.

Sunday: This was a free day. A group of us went to the Rotorua market, while others met up with friends or enjoyed some more sightseeing. We all met for Happy Hour and fish and chips.

Monday: We drove to Whakatane. It was a wet, cloudy day so we couldn't see White Island, but we admired P.S Wairaka statue at Whakatane heads. After lunch we drove through Waimana, Taneatua, Awakeri and the Lakes.

Tuesday: We went to Kuirau park and walked around the steaming, bubbling mud pools. We gathered on the bus, dropping some residents off at the Polynesian Spa and others off to do some shopping. After lunch everyone headed to Paradise Valley Springs. We had another great afternoon with the animals, including watching the great lions being fed. We finished off the day with Happy Hour and take-a-ways.

Wednesday: We packed up and headed home, stopping for morning tea in Taupo and lunch at Waioru Army Museum and Café, which brought back memories for some of us. We finished off our exciting week with an ice-cream in Otaki, before heading back to Wellington.