Maori Experience
After an afternoon in Hobbiton, we arrived back into Rotorua with just enough time to change clothes, grab some cash then head off to the Maori Experience! We got on the bus which really resembled a little school bus and the bus driver started telling us a bit about the Maori culture and what to expect for the night ahead. We were going to be greeted by the chief of a Maori tribe, and a short ceremony welcoming us and ensuring we were there for peace would occur. We had to nominate a chief for our bus to also represent our "tribe". The chief had to be a male so an Aussie guy, Richard was put forward and told that during the ceremony he must not laugh under any circumstances! The rest of us were told the same, no smiles, no laughs, as it was thought to be disrespectful. We arrived in great spirits and got off the bus to be shown into a forest area. We formed a semi circle around a sort of stage area, and the chiefs of the three buses stepped forward for the ceremony. There were drums, shouting, tribal tones and hums coming from the bushes then out stepped a few Maori tribesmen dressed in long manly skirts and feathers and with the tribal tattoos on their faces. Their welcome to our "tribe" included crazy dancing with sticks and pulling war faces, popping their eyes out and sticking out their tongues. It was so hard not to laugh!! The chiefs managed it though and after touching noses, we were welcomed in as their guests! We were led into the forest and each group was shown a little snippet of Maori tradition. One was the Haka - a war dance which is performed by the All Blacks rugby team before every rugby match. "The greatest rugby team in the world" or so we were told on average 5 times a day whilst in New Zealand!! We were also shown a traditional dance by Maori women with a poi, which I had a go at, and was AWFUL! Day then had a go at some sort of stick challenge where you had to pass it between 2 others, he was extremely pleased when he won and was named the champ! After this, we were taken through to another area of the forest and all gathered round another stage to be shown huge amounts of veggies and all kinds of meats be pulled out of the steaming ground! They cooked all the food that we would be feasting on later underground on hot stones, it looked and smelled amazing! But before we could all eat, we were treated to a stage show from the tribe of traditional dance, singing and performing. We sat down to the most ridiculous spread of food I think I have ever seen. And after 3 weeks of travelling and craving veg, we all stacked our plates full of meat and veg to feast on! I really love how proud New Zealand is of their culture and history. It was fantastic to learn more about how the Maori tribes have adjusted to the westernisation of their country and also eat their amazing food. Kia Ora!

Luging and the stinky park
On the kiwi bus, they had told us about luging and I was immediately keen to get involved! New Zealand invented Luging, which is where you sit In a go kart without an engine going down steep tracks with huge ramps and bends and only a brake and steering wheel to control the car! Day, Tim, Louise and I went along on a sunny afternoon and got the cable car to the top of the huge hill that overlooked the whole city. We got 5 goes across the different courses for $40 which was probably the best value for money activity we had done so far! Tim was ridiculous, and seemed to have no fear and determined not to use the brake! Day was pretty cautious at first, then after the first round, zoomed passed Louise and I on the second go. But the big shock was Louise who even with a wrist strapped up beat everyone on the last go, even leaving Tim behind. Good going Louise!! When we were at the bottom of the track, we had to get a sort of ski chair lift back to the top each time which took 5 times as long to get to the bottom, but it was so lush to be able to take in the views.
The next day after a big night out, we were all feeling pretty fragile but decided it would be a great idea to take a walk around the park close by that had geysers dotted around with sulphuric bubbling hot water spurting out of the ground. Worst idea ever! The smell was horrendous, and coupling that with a hangover had half of us heaving and all of us feeling pretty sick! It was cool to see the smokey lakes though