NZ - Rotorua Mountain Biking

In the early morning before we drove out on our next leg, Dom, Lyndon and Jack had a early morning start in the saddle. It was off to some trails near our accommodation. After a slow and chilly start we found some trails that covered all our experience levels. Lyndon's theory of starting with an uphill wasn't so well accepted at the start but on the final run home it made all the difference.  Lucky also that all 3 of them came home in one piece with not too much bark missing.

 After following Dom through the trails I now know why he works in an office.

 This is just a classic shot - steam coming of the tree as the rising sun hits it.

 The father and son team survive another MTB outing together, well done Jack.

 Luckily Jack gave up his bike for Lyndon and rode his old one. Down hill proved a little trickier than usual with the shorter wheel base.

Follow the leader is always fun especially when it's down hill.

NZ - Te Puia Cultural Centre

One afternoon after Zorbing we decided to visit Te Puia to see the mud pools and Geysers but we also got a good mix of Maori tradition too. Dylan wasn't fussed by it all (he went mountain bike riding with Jack and Dom) so Milla joined the Quirke tribe for the arvo. We joined a guided tour and the young fella was very informative and Jodie thought easy on the eyes too. At the start they held a traditional welcoming ceremony, volunteers for Chief were called for and Lyndon couldn't help himself. Front and centre and after the usual double take when you tell them you're from Tonga it was all on with the added bonus of front row seats. 

 Our daughters hanging outside some traditional carvings.

 Now that's some scary customers!

 The big chief from Tonga.

 Lyndon accepting the gift on behalf of the crowd from the warrior.

 Nothing like a little nose pressing to kick things off.

 The performers conducted a mixture of dances and explained each one before beginning.

 All the traditional clothing not too warm we were all guessing. Even one of the guys tried to swap his skirt for Lyndon's (borrowed) All Blacks jacket.

 Looking across the valley you could see the steam from the different geysers.

 These smaller geysers go off about every 30 min so it's not a long wait.

 Looking across the mud pools. The smell is just fantastic, (NOT) you just need to enjoy it for yourself to appreciate it.

 Emmy our little photographer snapped this lovely couples shot.

 The arty shot looking back into the setting sun.

 A tad hot at 60 plus degrees for a mud bath.

 Our guided tour ended up with a quick demo at the handicraft centre and wood carving centre.

No cultural centre is complete without a Kiwi enclosure but with no photos allowed inside it was shots of their cousins "Rigger and Mortus". The kids were really surprised by the large size of the Kiwi's.

NZ - Zorbing

Zorbing? Before heading on this trip Hannah sent us a few ideas and we were wondering what on earth has she got us doing. A quick google search and the kids were hooked. You roll down a big hill inside a plastic bubble (with or without water) how simple can it get???? We all headed over for a go, luckily they throw in some warm water so you don't have any control and don't get too chilly once you slide out. Pictures are worth a million words but video is even better as we found out after the three girls went down together. We gave Em the underwater camera and funniest home videos here we come. Jodie had to do the dry run, straight down, rolling over 19 times down the hill (strapped in), by the last 3 rolls she was saying "don't be sick, don't be sick". The kids loved it so much they had 2 goes at it.

 This is now how the Quirke's and Walton France's also roll.

 The Zorb's go up this way.

The kids and us went up this way. Nothing like a short 4WD adventure in the mud (because of course it was raining) to get you pumped up and ready.

 Then you all meet at the top and down you come either straight down, down the "S" bends or there is also a drop off down the back of the hill.

 Jodie and her bung toe had to go for the dry option and to her credit this is possibly the roughest as you are strapped in for the entire ride.

 Dyl was the first to hit the S bends and loved every minute of it.

 The girls went together and backwards but also had the video camera but due to our slow down load speeds that one won't make this Blog.

Lyndon being reborn after a rough ride down the S's and jumping the rail into the straight run. What a ball.

NZ - Luging

Yep kids we can go for a quick luge! How hard can it be? Jump on a board and shoot down to the bottom of a little hill. Well let me tell you we knew we were in trouble when we had to catch a gondala to the top of the mountain. Then from the top we saw the tracks, 1.7km runs each with it's own chairlift back to the top. The first run was a little slow but the boys got it down to a 20 minute turn around. After a few runs it was time for the father/son races followed by the clash of the Titans where both Dom and Lyndon used their own kids as blockers on anyone else on the track. No races for sheep stations here. After spending an entire day on the mountain everyone from Evie to Jodie had experienced the sensation of dragging your butt a few inches from the ground, some slower than others, but we all had the biggest smiles.

 Jodie and her adopted girls.

 The view up the mountain the building to the left was were we had dinner the night before and to the right is the luge park.

 This is the top of, the top luge track.

Everyone looking great in their ridiculous looking helmets. No one would even think of flogging one of these fashion statements to take home. Lyndon, Dom, Emily and Necie looking absolutely fabulous.

 Off and racing.

 Who needs brakes when you have your own kids and other tourists to run into.

 After a sugar reload at lunch it was time for girl power and Hannah and Jodie's first trip down, Milla and Emily had been 3 times already.

 Yes Jodie pull back for brakes.

Hannah on the other hand had no time for brakes.

The Quirke tribe and the other side of Lake Taupo and the township of Rotorua.

NZ - Rotorua

Rotorua was our meeting place to catch up with the Walton-France's - Hannah, Dom and the kids, as they also joined us for the remainder of the road trip. The weather here turned pretty miserable or you could say as expected with a very nice chill in the air. Some of our adventures in Rotorua included Zorbing, luging, naturally heated springs, mountain biking and Te Puia, the local cultural museum. The kids will never forget the stink of the geysers which was just around the corner from our accommodation. It is burnt into their noses for the remainder of their lives.

 Our Buggy for the week and the little shack behind us was our accommodation. Common amenities was not so flash noting the rain and cold weather.

 The girls were so excited to see each other and little Eve is not so little any more.

 At least Jodie's crutches came in handy for Dom and Lyndon to recover the footy from on top of the hedge.

 We took both tribes and visited the heated pools before dinner one night. Dom and Hannah looked more at home than us but we may still be spoilt with our Tongan temps.

 The girls enjoying the city lights as we headed up the gondola to the Skyline restaurant overlooking Rotorua.

Jodie enjoying a non Tongan buffet and good wine. Desert was the real treat, one of each was requested and devoured by the kids. We weren't far behind either.

NZ - Waitomo Caves

The main aim in Waitomo was to visit the famous Glow worm caves. We arrived in time to join one of the last tours of the day. The main entrance wasbrand new but the entrance to the cave hasn't changed since the late 1800's. They even had a museum dedicated for the caves, back in town, which we also visited. It was also an added bonus because the use of camera's in the actual caves is banned. The kids told the guide all about our caves in Tonga and how they are self guided by torch light and candles which she couldn't quite get her head around. The boat ride when exiting the caves was amazing with the glow worms all over the cave roof and the erie silence.

The main entrance has just completed a face lift and was such a grand entrance.

The kids with some professional photos from the cave.

Yep it's a setup shot from the museum. We had twice as many jumpers in the cave.

This is an example of the cave roofs. The worms mimic the night sky to draw the bugs up into their webs.

The light at the end of the tunnel. Smiles all round.

Dad and Dyl looking for the resident Trout that hangs out at the entrance to the cave and not a rod in sight.

Although this is the exit to our cave experience it is actually the entrance for the flow of water.

This is the little worms magnified by 10 times. The beads hanging down are actually their webs that catch dinner and their glowing butt is what attracts them up to the roof.