Rotorua

After leaving Hamilton we headed down to Rotorua.  The drive was beautiful, just like the rest of the country.  This is just one of the many gorgeous lanes we drove down. 

 

 

 

 

Along the way we went through a town called Tirau, they had very unusual buildings and signs.  They’ve taken using corrugated metal to a whole new level.  Here’s just a couple of examples:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Something else that was interesting along the way was this drug sign -

Drugs and alcohol are a huge problem here.  There are signs like this all over.  Recently the local TV station did a simple study where they had actors pose as drugged taxi drivers to see if their passengers would object to the being driven by someone incapacitated (the actors made it very obvious they had just used drugs).  Only 17% objected enough to say something.  The rest just allowed them to continue.  I thought this was amazing!

 

Ever since arriving in New Zealand Hannah has wanted to do this activity.  Basically, you roll down a giant hill inside a big rubber ball.  You can choose to go for a wet ride alone or with up to 3 friends (this one you don’t go over and over, you stay at the bottom and the water goes all over you) or you can go by yourself all strapped in and go head over heels multiple times as you go down the hill. 

Hannah chose to ride alone. 

 

 

You ride up to the top in this van.  Hannah said she wasn’t nervous, but I think she was just being brave.  I know I’d have been scared to death.

 

 

Just before takeoff, she’s all strapped in – any second thoughts????

 

 

 

 

 

This is where she started all the way up at the top.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, she’s off…….rolling…rolling…rolling…..rolling…rolling…rolling…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She came running back afterwards, said it was a BLAST!!  Not me, I would have thrown up after the first rotation.  Oh, to be young again!

 

 

 

 

Rotorua is a touristy town.  It’s famous for it’s geysers.  The whole area smells like sulfur, not to the point of it being overpowering, just every once in a while you wonder what is that smell, then you remember you’re in Rotorua.  It also has blocks and blocks of shops to attract tourists, so being as that’s what we are we got out and walked the streets.  It was fun.    

One thing that did impress us was this was the first town that we had actually seen Christmas decorations and heard a Christmas carol.  Not even the Christian radio stations play Christmas music here.  It’s kind of strange, no decorations in any of the shop windows, no lights and off course no snow so it’s been really hard to get in the Christmas Spirit. 

The main plaza in town didn’t have a lot of decorations but it did have this giant tree all decked out and the Salvation Army was hosting a concert to raise funds.  Matt got to talking to one of the SA workers who told him that it’s hard to raise funds here because the country has become so secularized.  People just aren’t interested in religion for the most part.  We loved the Christmas music, the band was from the Catholic Church.  They were really good, made me wish I had musical talent. 

These are just a few other cool pictures from Rotorua:

New Zealand is really good about helping people know where they are going.  This is a typical sign.  All along our way we’ve seen signs telling where everything from small businesses to schools are located – even toilets.  Some are even the big brown signs like we have on our freeways.  I’ve wondered if the business have to pay for these or if it’s just something NZ does?  Either way it’s nice for tourists and others who need help with directions.

Showing the Maori influence on the local culture.

 

 

Loved the cool car that drove by while listening to the concert. 

 

 

We passed this great house on our way out of town.  It’s now a bed and breakfast.

 

 

 

 

 

Now, it’s on to Napier….