Today we headed off to Rotorua. Along the way we went and checked out the gold mine which is this huge quarry which went so deep, but enfortunately we could only peer through the fence and couldn't have a nose round, but i did take a picture of teh monster truck they use to carry out the gold!! We then stopped off for a walk along the river which was stunning, we crossed lots of flimsy ropey bridges which LJ said we had to run across- so it was near impossible to stand up because the bridge kept flying up to meet your feet or just disappearing beneath them- and the tiny waist high roping wasn't too reassuring that i wouldn't get chucked over- so much fun! We walked along the old tran track which took us through this tunnel which was pitch black, and felt like it went on forever! Rotorua is also know as rottenrue because of all the geothermal acigeothermal activity it smells like rotten egg. Lots of our bus went off to do zorbing ( where you are in a giant hamster ball and roll down a hill) and Luging ( a mini gocart type thing) but sadly our tight budget mean we had to skip those out- so gutted but i will return and conquer!!! The town was quite small but its so interesting just having these huge towers of steam as you walk round the corner- they have dug all these holes to release the pressure, so there are bubbling mud pools and steam towers and strong gusts of egg all over the town- yummy. That evening we headed to a Maori evening which is held on the land where a tribe used to live. We arrived and our driver told us not to smile or laugh during the welcoming ceremony as its a real insult to the chiefs. We walked through these huge gates and heard these tribal call and then 5 maori warriors ran out which spears and various weapons and started there dance and chants dressed in loin cloths and lots of face paints, sticking out there tongues and glaring their eyes. A man off each tour bus was nominated as chief and had to stand in front of these warriors to take the fern leaf to show we came in peace ( it was all quite a tourist performance, but was still really cool to watch). Then we went inside the forest which was so misty and erie with fires and small shelters and the maori men and women all beating their chests and singing, and then we were led inside this room where we had a concert thing where they sang lots of songs and danced and showed us their weapons and they did the hacker which is always awesome to watch. We then had a traditional maori feast ( which was in fact a roast dinner- so not sure how authentic that was! followed by treacle pudding and pavlova which is in fact a traditional kiwi dessert over here!). The whole night was really good fun, and the atmosphere was really cool being in this forest even if it was soooo cold!! The following morning before we headed to Waitomo, we went for a walk in the Redwood forest which was lovely, such a dense forest with these enormous giant redwood trees. Then back in the bus and off to waitomo.