After paying up for our late arrival we made our way to the Zorb track in Rotorua! $53 to strap ourselves into a giant ball and be rolled down the hill! Jo went first after we'd watched some other people do the option where you're not strapped in and the ball has water in it so it's more like a slide as you roll inside, not for us! I watched the ball go round and round, and saw as Jo slid out at the bottom with a bemused look on her face. She'd broken her bracelet during the roll, a fact that the bloke helping her out didn't seem too bothered about! Next up it was my turn! I entered the Zorb head first, apologising the bloke helping me in for his view! Strapped all my limbs in, but my head was just hanging around, for which the chap said to just push it back into the Zorb to keep it steady. I tried this, but as I went head over backside my head went wherever it wanted: I screamed with excitement as I rolled round and round and round and round! Jo said she could hear me as I got near the end! My head wasn't too fuzzy as I got out, and I managed to walk in a fairly straight line back to where Jo was! Although she said her head felt fuzzy for a good few hours after her Zorb, probably not helped by the luge rides she did straight after! I'd definitely reccommend Zorbing! Much safer than a bungee jump, and it lasts longer!

Next stop was the Luge track, where Jo wanted to improve on her non-existent times from Queenstown and do the advanced tracks! One Luge was enough for me and so I refrained, but Jo managed to do a few tracks, and even got introduced to the 'lucky customer special'!

After the Luge and some lunch we headed back to the hostel to organise our exciting night: washing and washing our hair. Well that was the prequel to the big night! We booked a Mauri experience and a night tour of the rainforest where we'd be able to see the kiwi - the bird not the people, not the shoe polish, and not the fruit!

We were picked up at 6 from the site and taken to the Maori village, well it used to be a Maori village, now it's a big marquee with an eating hall, stage, and attached animal park with gift shop. There were about 17 tables in the hall, all but one of them filled for the show, and apparently this was a quiet night! Our guide for the night tried to loosen us all up by getting someone to volunteer to be chief, a very unassuming Danish man who couldn't have been further from any Maori chief you'd imagine! We were shown the food in the hungi and told not to confuse it with the hangi greeting of touching noses.... or was it the other way around?

We watched as the Maori men rowed their kayak down the river, chanting as they did: quite intimidating as we watched from the banks, although not as bad as the walk down to the river when we could see the men playing with fire in the woods!

Next up was the performance: they sang their traditional songs, did their dances, including the infamous Haka, and explained all the markings, weapons, and practices of their culture. It was really interesting, and entertaining at the same time, which was fortunate! It got a bit silly towards the end when the real chief, although not a REAL chief, made us all stand up and try to do some of the Haka moves. I couldn't see for tears, which didn't help Jo's performance either. Oops!

The meal was amazing, reminded me of Catlin's Thanksgiving meal last year, there was SO much food! Sweet potatoes, scalloped potatoes, chicken, lamb, stuffing (for the English apparently!), salad, and even dessert. Although the dessert was just chocolate log or trifle - can't really imagine the old Maori warriors tucking into that! Everyone filled their plates, my travelling mode set in and I filled mine to make sure I was getting value for money! Jo concentrated on the meat and potatoes and managed to fill herself up far too quickly! Gosh Jo!

The performers came into the hall to have their meal too, and I must say they looked a whole lot less intimidating in their shorts, flip-flops and hoodies! There I was thinking they lived in the Maori village at all times!

We went on the night walk after the food had gone down, or at least it had attempted to, and saw the trout (whoppee), birds, and finally the Kiwi. Although I say we saw it, we saw its shadows as all four of them hid in their respective pens whilst the twenty of us huddled to see as much as we could. I think I'd have hidden too. Apparently they can't be put in together as they're territorial and would kill one another! Killing partners must have been a theme in the park, as there was another bird whose breed escapes me as usual, who had killed two of its partners, after the second they finally realised maybe she wanted to be alone!

We got back to the van at about 11, a late night by the van's standards! No nightmares about the Haka though fortunately!