Feb 13, 2012 Mon. Day 4 Rotorua

Left early in the rain.  By the time we reached Rotorua at 10:30 the sun was out.  A

large grocery shopping this time.  Proper coffee.  Almost impossible to find here.  Or order. 

They don't know what regular coffee is here.  It's long or short black or white,  cappuccino, latte

or flat white.  I asked for a regular in a restaurant, and learned pretty quickly they have

no idea what that is.  Rotorua is a geothermal paradise.  Here we stood  on active

volcanoes,  peered into massive craters and saw boiling mud and erupting geysers.  It's

an awesome sight.   A tour of the small town of 62 Maori people surrounded by and

built on geysers.  Sulphur smell is very strong.  After the tour we had a concert by the

Maori people. Here is when my camera broke.  The lens wouldn't open.  This camera

is less than a year old.  This is exactly the same problem as I had with my previous

Canon.  Twice.   

We were usually standing in the steam.  Very good for the complexion. 

Concert by the Maori people. 

Marcel feeding a duck.  

Jade 

Marcel and I both bought very thin hats.  But they are not supposed to be worn this way!! 

On route we saw a sign for the famous Kauri trees.  It can attain heights of 40 to 50 metres and trunk diameters over 5 metres Unfortunately we did not stop which I regretted.  They are only found in the northern part of the North Island. 

The height of the roads we drive on is clearly seen here.  Actually not so clearly. Picture is  taken through the back window.  Below is the road we came from.