Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of the mrlukeniktravels blog this week from Rotorua, New Zealand. This week has involved geysers, hobbits and very tall trees. Since moving from Hamilton there has been lots of nature and attractions to visit here in Rotorua. The sun is currently shining through the roof the conservatory that serves as this week’s writing area. I just have to remember the sun-screen even when it is not that sunny!
The stand out draw of this part of New Zealand is the aforementioned volcanic activity. There are bubbling mud pits, spouting geysers and stream rising from thermal pools. The city of Rotorua sits inside a huge volcanic crater which erupted approximately 200,000 years ago. The fissures and deposits left by this eruption are responsible for today’s activity. There are four principal geysers in the city, located in the Te Puia reserve. Some of these erupt frequently, others less but more spectacularly. Wherever you happen to find yourself in the city, the smell of sulfur (sulphur) is never far away. Having already visited Iceland during this trip, this is not an unfamiliar smell to me. The tap water here in new Zealand, unlike Iceland, does not smell of rotten eggs.
Steam rising off Lake Kuirau. According to Maori legend, a jealous water demon kidnapping a beautiful woman caused the gods to make the water too hot to swim in.
Te Puia Reserve with a smaller geyser eruption and resultant steam.
Another of Rotorua’s natural beauties is the Redwood Forest. This is comprised of Californian Redwood trees planted in the Edwardian period. Today their vast trunks tower many metres above the forest floor. The park also has plenty of trails and hiking opportunities within the forest and the shorelines of nearby lakes. There were great views of Lake Rotorua and the city from the hills of the park. Clear blue skies and a refreshing breeze always increase the enjoyment of these hikes! It is always nice to get out of the city to enjoy the fresh air and natural environment.
Amongst the giants of the forest.
Early(ish) on Friday morning I headed out on a tour of the Hobbiton site. This is where filming took place for the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films acting as the homes of the hobbits of the Shire. It is now a permanent fixture and a tourist attraction. Notable structures include Bag End, the Green Dragon and the Party Tree. The set includes a mixture of genuine and artificial trees, vegetables and country paraphernalia. There are even hobbit-sized laundry lines and water pumps! The biggest show of fakery is the tree atop Bag End that is covered in 200,000 false leaves. It looks very real! For fans and non-fans alike, it is a magical experience. I look froward to being able to visit more film-related locations further south on my journey through New Zealand.
Bag End, the home of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. Sadly they were not in when I visited(!).
That is about all for this week from Rotorua and it’s geological anomalies. Next week I shall be lake-side again in Taupo, around an hour south of where I currently. From now until then, as always, there is my Twitter feed @mrlukeniktravel. For pictorial updates there is my Instagram feed @mrlukeniktravels. From now until then, stay safe and travel on!
A strange-coloured, mineral-infused stream.
