Even our 5.5 hour drive up to Rotorua was nice. The scenery was beautiful. There must have been a car show in Wellington because it seemed like half the cars going the other direction were restored classics and other impressive vehicles. We were welcomed to our bed and breakfast, Mokoia Downs, with tea and scones. The grounds were beautiful and we really scored on a great place for kids. We didn’t use half of the things they had that would have been great fun. We drove back into a little village for a quick bite to eat and some playing in a park before getting back to put the kids to bed.

Our first full day in Rotorua we headed to Waitapo Thermal Wonderland. We started out by watching them start up a geyser. They put a little soap in it to change the surface tension of the water and jump-start the eruption. Eden was excited about that and it was pretty impressive. We saw some hot pools and a very cool florescent green pool. Sadly we totally forgot our camera and were afraid if we turned back to get it we would miss the geyser eruption. I really expected to see dinosaurs pop up out of the palm and ferns so it is a shame we missed out on photos but Yellowstone is at least as visually exciting as this place was. Now we want to take the kids there!

After our morning in the thermal park we took a gondola up one of the hillsides and went luging. It was a total blast. They had multiple tracks down the hillside and then you took a chairlift back up for another go. We all went together the first time. Then Chad and Eden went on another track together. He said it was so fun that he talked me into taking her one more time. Lucky girl! I am glad I did. It was such a fun thing to do. The chairlift alone would have been great.

We got back in time for short naps and afternoon tea. Mick and Teresa had left us cake. Then we went to the Mitai Hangi (think hawaiian luau). The piece of land they have there is beautiful. We walked down to the stream and there were costumed Maoris peeking out at us. They were definitely in character. They looked pretty menacing. I tried to tell Eden that they were out there to protect their homes and families. She waved, but these guys were no Disneyland characters ready to give hugs and sign autograph books. Then we saw a group of them paddle up stream. They were shouting a chant and doing their traditional scare-every-living-thing-away looks. It was great!

Next we were treated to a show. They did demonstrations for weapons, games, instruments and the Haka. Wow! They are fierce. We had to constantly reassure Eden that everything was okay. She got pretty scared during the yelling. I forgot how threatening the Haka can be! Then we had a great big meal. The kids did great but we were all beat after.