Float plane-Maori Cultural Experience Thursday December 22nd

Float plane-Maori Cultural Experience

Thursday December 22nd

Today the boys got up early despite a late night.  There is something about 6 o’clock that doesn’t allow them to sleep!

We ate a relatively light breakfast not knowing how our stomachs would handle the float plane.  We drove over to Volcanic Safaris to find our cessna waiting but the clouds too low.  We then played at the park for about forty-five minutes before taking off.  The boys were in the far back and had quite the bumpy take off!  The kids were most fascinated with the headsets and microphones and loved talking to Jeff, our pilot.  We took off and flew around Lake Rotorua and Mokoia Island before heading over the geothermal area of Hells’s Gate.  Then, it was on to Okere Falls and some of the other many lakes in this area.  We then went over Rotorua the city and its very large hot springs with lots of rotten egg smell!  Gabe was not too happy about this!  The landing was perfect and everyone was very excited about our float plane experience. 

The kids and Ursula scope out the float plane.

Brody is loaded up!

They were soooo excited to get to use the headphones and headset.

Dad in the co-pilot seat (yes I asked to have a go at the controls, and no he wouldn't let me).

That building with the orange roof is the Rotorua Museum we visited the night before-it reminded us of the Holiday inn in New Ulm!

After getting something to drink we drove out to the Agrodome.  We were first treated to a sheep show where they showed us some of the many wonderful types of sheep and explained their advantages and uses.  It was fascinating to see the differences.  One of the shearers showed his handy work-it was quite amazing to see.  They showed us the different sheep dogs used in NZ and then called Tara up with four other kids.  They were each handed a large bottle with milk and told they were going to have a drinking competition.  She looked a little nervous but did great.  Just before they were supposed to drink from the bottle four lambs came out and she was able to feed them!  She was rightfully very proud of her performance.  After the show we got to go and the kids pet the lambs.

After the show we went on a tractor tour of the NZ farm.  The kids were able to see and feed: sheep, llamas, alpacas, and deer.  They saw some kiwifruit and feijoa fields and got to try kiwi and aloe vera juice.  It was fun day but we headed into town to go to a chic little cafe that was great but very busy.  After eating we headed home for a quick rest as we have a big night ahead . . .

. . . of course, none of the kids slept a wink.  After a snack we were picked up by a Mitai bus for our Beauty by Night, meets people of the Land.  The Mitai Maori Village is right next to Rainbow Springs Wildlife Park and they combine the two.

Entrance to the Agrodome.

Petting some sheep.

The Sheep Show.

Sheep sheering.

Sheered sheep-left;wool-right.

Tara was called up on stage to help.

Each of the four kids got a bottle with milk.

He initially told them it was a drinking contest to see who could finish the bottle first!

But, they got to feed baby sheep.

Brody feeds a deer.

The first part is a trip to the Mitai village for a Maori Cultural Experience.  As you can tell by the names of almost everything in NZ, the Maori seem highly valued here and there is a real integration of the Maori and European settlers.  The Maori are very proud of their heritage and preserving it, and hence, this cultural experience.

We were taken past their sacred spring to see the Maori warriors on an ancient war canoe-it was quite intimidating.  Next, we saw how they traditionally prepare food for a hangi feast (the food is slowly cooked beneath the ground on heated stones.  After seeing where and how the food was prepared we went to see their songs, dances, weapons with demonstration, greetings, and ended with the fearsome haka.  We learned a little bit about the Maori tattoos, specifically their face tattoos and how they represent four birds (owl, kiwi, parrot, and   )

Entering the Mitai village.

We were all standing along side a stream when we could hear the chanting start.  It was incredibly intimidating when they came into view.

A traditional war canoe.

Hangi preperation (they burn a fire with rocks on it and then use the rocks in a covered pit to cook the food for about four hours.

Maori dancing. 

Women doing a poi dance.

The haka!

Want to see the World Champ NZ All Blacks do it? 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4LNjNXt1yM

After all of that, we headed over for our hangi feast.  It was absolutely delicious and everyone left very full.

The Rainbow Springs night tour was fun as most of the iconic animals of the wildlife park are nocturnal.  They call it Rainbow Springs because of the large number of rainbow trout.  We first saw the tuatara reptiles-once found all over the world and now only in NZ as they don’t compete well against mammals.

There were some local fish, eels, and birds before heading into the main event . . . the kiwi house!  Spotting the skittish birds took some time and patience but we all got a great look at two of their kiwi.  Forest (a female) and Kotori (a male).  I guess because they are so rare and yet so iconic for NZ that the experience was amazing!  It was really magical to see the relatively large kiwi scamper back and forth between the foliage with their long narrow beaks.  They are amazing to see, no tail feathers and only the slightest hint of a wing nubbin so they look like an oval kiwi fruit.  It was a total success and a really action packed day!

We headed back on a bus and he passed by our B & B which was a pain but when we arrived home we found a Christmas tree twinkling in our room!  The boys were sure it was the owner, Tara was leaning towards Santa.

A Tuatara.

A Christmas tree!