Tauranga, New Zealand

Day 8 Once again it was nice to see land when we woke up anxious to explore Tauranga, New Zealand.

Once off the ship, lots of the passengers were standing around waiting for their various tour guides.

Steven had arranged for a tour for us that day. We were happy to be in a small bus and not in a big bus tour group.

Off we went, leaving the water and driving inland.

The first stop of the day was at a honey store.

We learned a little about bees.

There were lots of different honey products on display for sale.

There was a huge display of Manuka honey which is made by bees that polinate the native manuka bush. "Some Manuka honey has significant antibacterial properties."

One time when I was extremely ill on the mission, one of our senior missionaries, Sister Sattley, brought me a jar of Manuka honey. She was convinced it would cure me. I consumed the whole jar over the course of several days.

It did not cure me, probably because I was way too sick when I started taking it. But now I sure appreciate the expensive price she paid for the honey for me.

I thought the sign for the women's restroom in the honey store was a good one.

It was a stark reminder for me to see this warning on the back of the bathroom stall. As if we weren't thinking enough about coronavirus on the ship, we were getting reminders of it on land, too.

We got back in the van and rode to Okere Falls Scenic Reserve.

We drove to Kuirau Park in Rotorua where there are thermal pools bubbling up in various spots.

There was a lot of steam coming off the small lake in the park.

Next we moved on to The Living Maori Village Whakarewarewa.

Our group was given a few minutes to get something for lunch at the Geyser Cafe.

Our tour guide suggested trying the Hangi pies--so we did. They are like meat pies.

I perused the map of the village while I was eating. It was a little freaky to me that people were actually living among the thermal pools scattered all throughout their village.

Our village tour guide had us practice how to say the official big, long name (red sign) of their village.

We passed under the archway and stood on a bridge over a river.

A young boy climbed down the steep riverbank to swim in the river. He was poised there looking expectantly at the tourists in hopes they would throw coins into the water.

He would then dive into the water to retrieve the coin, hold it up to show he had gotten it and then stick it in his mouth to hold it so he could dive for other coins.

These are some photos of their village and all the steam coming up between their homes from the thermal pools.

This is a thermal cooking oven where the Maoris put food inside it and the thermal heat cooks the food.

This pool is also used for cooking. We watched a man put in two big bags filled with ears of corn.

The thermal heated water gets routed into catch basins at the communal baths.

  The Tupuna Whare is their ancestral meeting house.

 We saw their burial ground.

Off in the distance was a massive thermal pool, complete with a geyser--their version of Yellowstone National Park's Old Faithful.

Several tour groups congregated together to watch a program in the Cultural Performance Area. 

There was group participation during one part of the show, and photos with the performers after the show.

Back on the bus we went.

Kiwifruit Country was our next stop.

Both the green kiwifruit and the golden kiwifruit are grown here. They grow huge hedges to protect their orchards from the wind. They also put up a net-type barrier as well.

Kiwifruit grows on vines like the way grapes grow.

Inside the store, a man was cutting up both kinds of kiwifruit into samples for us to taste and compare the difference. The golden kiwifruit tasted a little sweeter. 

Of course they had all kinds of kiwifruit bottled jams and juices and other items that we could buy.

We climbed aboard our small bus and headed back to the port so we could board our ship. Glen was feeling a special kinship to his father while we were in New Zealand because that is where his father served his mission.

This photo captures exactly how Patricia felt about going to the Windjammer Buffet every evening after our dinner. 

We caught a glimpse of the sunset from our balcony.

Our evening show was hypnotist Anthony B. Laffan. I'm not sure he kept us laughing, more like we were squirming with how uncomfortably silly the volunteers looked on stage as he gave them various commands to do while being hypnotized. We aren't big fans of hypnosis.

Our bear towel animal was adorable. I wonder how long it takes to fold the towel animals.

Good night. Sleep tight! Another adventure awaits.