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Te Puia and Tamaki Village, Rotorua
March 11th, 2009

During our brief visit in Rotorua we visited Te Puia to see the geothermal activity (geysers, boiling mud, etc.) and learn about Maori culture. Then in the evening we went to a Maori Concert and Hangi at the Tamaki Maori Village. The next morning we also visited the Polynesian Spa hot pool facilities where we soaked in the hot pools while looking out over Lake Rotorua. This was a great way to spend our last morning in New Zealand - particularly after all our crazy activities! :)

Mike near the entrance to Te Puia.

Mike hasn't been eating his wheaties! ;)

A quail (?) on the fence.

I'm going to eat you!!!

Mike under a large Maori carving.

Boiling mud!

Boiling mud!

Mike in front of the boiling mud pools.

The geothermal activity near the Pohutu and Prince of Wales geysers.

The colourful rocks around the geysers.

The colourful rocks around the geysers.

Interesting formations below the geyser rock formation.

Mike "steaming"!

The little pond below the geysers.

A Maori carving inside the interpretive area.

More Maori carvings inside the interpretive area.

Some Maori weaving.

Mike in front of the Pohutu and Prince of Wales geysers as they erupt.

The Pohutu and Prince of Wales geysers putting on their show.

A different angle of the geysers.

A Maori building which is elevated off the ground and was used to store food in.

Some unfinished Maori carvings and flax skirts.

Mike with our Maori guide who took us through Te Puia.

Part of the welcome ceremony at Tamaki Village.

Part of the welcome ceremony at Tamaki Village.

Part of the welcome ceremony at Tamaki Village.

Part of the welcome ceremony at Tamaki Village.

A Maori woman explaining some of the Maori ways.

Some Maori women demonstrating the Maori way of life.

Part of the concert prior to the Hangi.

Part of the concert prior to the Hangi.

Part of the concert prior to the Hangi.

Part of the concert prior to the Hangi.

Part of the concert prior to the Hangi.

Part of the concert prior to the Hangi.

The Polynesian Spa hot pools in Rotorua that overlook Lake Rotorua.

The Polynesian Spa hot pools in Rotorua that overlook Lake Rotorua.

The Polynesian Spa hot pools in Rotorua that overlook Lake Rotorua.

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