On Wednesday morning we left Thames and drove down to the Karangahake Gorge. This was the site of a gold rush in 1875. Apart from the swing bridges and river walk, the main highlight was walking a VERY dimly lit 1km tunnel...
We then drove down to Rotorua and visited the Whakarewarewa Forest containing magnificent, towering Californian Coastal Redwoods...
We then visited the Buried Village. Mount Tarawera erupted in June 1886 burying an entire village in mud, rock and lava. Excavations have since revealed a number of the wood and stone buildings preserved in the mud...
We then went into Rotorua and walked around a Maori village including the meeting hall...
In the evening we rode the Rotorua Skyline...
We had a buffet dinner watching the sun set over Lake Rotorua...
The full moon lights up Lake Rotorua, formed from the crater of a large volcano...
On Thursday we visited the Waimangu Volcanic Valley. We followed the crater walkways throuhgh Waimangu's steaming landscape and many geothermal features... I'm not going to try and explain the features so you can look at the pictures and read more here... http://www.waimangu.co.nz/
One more for the album...
Part 3 will include Wai-o-tapu, Taupo and Waitomo.
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