The steaming lake at Kuirau Park. |
There is a little thermal pool at the end of the park! |
Warming out feet in the geothermic pool. |
The next day, we visited one of Rotorua's most famous sites- Whakarewarewa Thermal Park. |
We thought this would be a historical site, but actually, it's a living Maori village. That charges $30 per person to enter. |
The Maori detailing on the Maori village temple. |
The Whaka village temple. Oh, and this is the hottest day of the entire trip. Sunny day #4!! |
The main street running through Whaka. The steaming geothermic pools are all fenced off. |
The boiling pools. |
A view across to the other famous geothermal site in Rotorua, Wai-O-Tapu. There, Lady Knox Geyser erupts several times a day. |
Lady Knox Geyser. |
Do NOT stick your finger in this. |
A normal day of steaming volcanic activity in Rotorua. |
The residents of Whaka put on a Maori performance for the visitors. |
The baton passing dance. |
The men perform! The tongue sticking out is a way to intimidate enemies. But if the tongue is stuck out to the side, it's a welcome. |
Our best Maori faces! |
Some of the very cool totems at Whaka. |
Matt shows his best Maori warrior spirit. |
The Maori made good use of the geothermic heat by cooking with it. They would steam or boil the food in a process called "Hangi." In Rotorua, the only place left to get authentic hangi is at Whaka- they have corn! |