Day Trip to Rotorua.

Ah, a picnic with friends on a crystal clear, early spring day on the shores of Lake Rotorua (Ro-tor-roo-ah).  Hard to believe this is in the heart of the city of Rotorua, isn't it?

We had a pleasant foot-soak in the thermal mineral water foot-bath in Kuirau (Koo-ee-row) Park.

Then we visited the Rotorua Museum of Art and History.  

The front gate, the Totara timber Prince's Gate Archway (built in a different spot and moved here later) is a stylised representation of a crown.  It was built in honour of the 1901 visit of the then Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, who were later to become King George V and Queen Mary.  It was decorated with greenery and illuminated with electric lights, a great novelty as electricity had only just become available in Rotorua.

The striking Tudor-style building, which is now the Rotorua Museum of Art and History, used to be the world famous Rotorua Bathhouse, which offered therapeutic treatments.  The New Zealand Government opened it in 1908, and hoped to tempt wealthy northern hemisphere patrons to travel to this "Great South Seas Spa".  Water from nearby springs was piped to deep pools, private bathrooms and Aix-douche massage rooms.  Men and women had separate wings.  You can wander around some restored areas and pretend you are relaxing after your electric treatment in the sumptuous rooms decorated with marble statues and lovely furnishings.  Unfortunately the corrosive mineral water ate into the pipes very quickly and so the grand scheme was plagued (sorry Robert) with insurmountable maintenance problems, aside from the dubious benefits of being mildly electrocuted, or soaking in and inhaling vast quantities of toxic substances. 

On the way home we stopped at our favourite little country store and got an icecream.

...which we ate down at the jetty on the shores of Lake Rotoiti (Row-tor-ee-tee). 

Thanks to Claire for images 1, 2, 5 & 7.

Walking up Mount Otanewainuku

Today we climb up Mount Otanewainuku.  This is an extinct volcano that is now clad in a generous lush cloak of New Zealand native forest, and is a bird sanctuary.  

We pause for a few minutes at the start to look at the Kiwi poster.  Kiwi are nocturnal birds so we won't see any but we read about them instead. 

Dogs are very good at disturbing kiwi so we've left Shelly at home today. 

 You can read all about the Otanewainuku Trust here.

As we climb up the track through the thick foliage, I try and point out species of interest:  a springy plant called Mangemange or 'Bushman's Mattress', which was used for just this purpose, the Mokimoki or  'Fragrant Fern' that smells very pleasant when it is dry - a cross between rose petals and sweet hay; and Kareao or 'Supplejack', a true liana - forest vine -  that has soft tender tips that taste of beans.  We also look for the epiphytic Kiekie which we want to try and weave into kete, or small basket-like containers.

Sometimes we spot the pink flags that mark the beginnings of the trapping lines. Volunteers check and re-bait the traps weekly to try and control the numbers of stoats, weasels, rats and feral cats that eat eggs and young birds.  Especially vulnerable are the ground-nesting birds like Kiwi*.  

 

As we approach the top, it gets steeper and steeper, so when we emerge into the sunshine, we're puffing, and very pleased!  We climb the steps to the platform just under the trig. marker and enjoy a drink and snack and the lovely view.

* For the millions of years before humans came to New Zealand (about 600 years ago), there were no mammalian predators at all.  (In fact the only mammals were a couple of species of bat.)  As a result, many New Zealand birds have lost the use of their wings, and nest on the ground.

Thank you Claire for the lovely images you took.

... and a blue beetle in a beech tree

I'm growing a few New Zealand indigenous trees in my garden.  Today I spotted a couple of these pretty little beetles wandering around on the trunk of my Red Beech*.  I wonder what they are.  Anyone know?

This page in my Guide to European Creepy Crawlies is not much help, but is the closest.  My handsome blue beetle has big thighs (ha ha), iridescent blue elytra (wing-covers) with those bright yellow patches, and is about 10 mm long.

* Click here to identify the different New Zealand beeches.

Beauty in Unexpected Places

Visiting Hobbiton

 

It was early spring at the Alexander's lovely property near Hinuera.  I felt quite nostalgic for my own Okoroire farm years, quite near here.  

There were the first early lambs happily sitting all over the area that was used for the Shire and Hobbiton in the 'Lord of the Rings' series of films.  Some landscaping and planting was taking place in preparation for the new movie 'The Hobbit', that New Line Cinema is planning to make here.*

Here's the 'Party Tree' that was the scene of Bilbo's 111th birthday party and Merry and Pippin's firework prank.

It was a requirement of the contract the Alexanders signed that nothing should be left, but a series of storms and happenstance meant that the last few hobbit holes were not 'removed' and after a request from the Alexanders, New Line agreed to let them remain in very simple form, but without their brickwork, doors etc.  And it's lucky in a way that they did, because now that they need to use this farm again, it is a much simpler job to reinstall them.

I wasn't expecting much, but the tour was very  interesting and informative, even to our family who know almost all there is to know about the making of the films, due to James's almost obsessive interest.  I especially enjoyed the information about the farm itself, and the secrecy and ergonomics of the filming process - catering etc., for such a huge number of people who had to be on site during the day.  

Afterwards it was a pleasant surprise to also have a shearing demonstration and be allowed to bottle-feed some orphan lambs.

Speaking as a local, I thought it well worth the visit and the price.  As a tourist, a very good introduction to New Zealand sheep farming, and an excellent insight into the process of big film-making, and the whole Lord of the Rings phenomenon.  

Go here to the wiki site for more information about the film.  Or watch the excellent material that comes with the extended versions.  Fascinating.  The music soundtrack is lovely too.

*New Line is under contract to produce the Hobbit with MGM, which is due to be sold soon.  It's not considered this will prevent the film going ahead.    However I'm not sure what the effect will be of the outcome of the Tolkien Family Trust vs. New Line court case.