Te Pūia

Te Puia and Redwood Treewalk

Last day in Rotorua (8.3). First, we slept in for a long time and then drove to the Maori cultural center, Te Pūia. It is managed by a large family, so everyone there is somewhat of an aunt or uncle. First, there was a brief overview of the 5 geysers and hot springs located there. After that, we were guided through the Kiwi house. To better showcase the active birds, their rhythm was altered. Unfortunately, this is the only place in the 'village' where photography is not allowed. Nevertheless, we saw our first and only living Kiwis on the trip!

Then we went to the Mudpool, where healing mud is still used today. Next door, the big geyser was erupting (it erupts about 1 to 2 times per hour), so we quickly moved on. The show lasts about 10 to 15 minutes, and the fountain can reach heights of up to 30 meters. But there are 2! that always erupt together. Here, you have a short time to look around before continuing to the craft school. The Maori Crafts Institute was established here in the 1960s. Since then, artists from all tribes have been taught in their respective fields (stone carving, woodwork, weaving) in traditional styles and techniques for 3 years. Each class has about 6 to 10 artists. The workshops are accessible, and if an artist is present, they are happy to talk about their work. However, there is no time for that during the tour. After the tour, you can return to any location on your own.

We were running late for the cultural performance and initially could not stroll through the gallery.

The cultural performance consists of a welcome ceremony, the display of weapons and toys, and the transmission of stories through song and dance. It is definitely worth booking this; it is very entertaining and served with a good portion of fun.

Now it was time to take another look at everything, and we made the most of it. The gallery displays pieces for sale and had some very beautiful exhibits. Unfortunately, the weather got worse, and we had to hurry to save our drying laundry (not).

In the late afternoon, we set off for the Redwood Treewalk. Here, different tree species were planted for forestry trials to test them in the New Zealand climate. While California redwoods grow very slowly (a few mm per year in diameter), the growth is faster in New Zealand. With a thickness increase of about 2 to 6 cm per year in the early years, it makes a huge difference. However, the wood is much softer. Ultimately, the pine has prevailed in forestry. There are definitely many redwoods here, and they are now used as a base for platforms and ziplines. The walk is quite nice; it's worth doing but not necessary. In the evening, there are a few lights, but you have to wait significantly longer for them.

Ending the day at a pizzeria with a familiar name, Mamma Rosa. Pizza has not really impressed us on this holiday so far, but this one succeeded for me. The crust was okay, the sauce was very good, and finally, there was a topping of reasonably good quality. Unfortunately, Julia's simple ham & mushrooms conformed more to the local standards for toppings. And as Jeremy Clarkson always put it so beautifully on Top Gear, 'And with this bitter disappointment, our show ends' or at least the day.