Skyline Restaurant

Photos of this place are amazing.  The buffet gets its own video (wish it was scratch and sniff!)  Here are a few delicious tidbits right off the restaurants  Facebook page.  (https://www.facebook.com/SkylineRotorua/photos_stream)

And if you want to see a video of food at the buffet (might want to have a snack first);  see:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CehAvpJnYsI

Maori Tattoos

The Maori facial tattoo was not only seen as a sign of rank though, but was also used as a kind of identification card. For men, their face tattoo showed their accomplishments, status, position, ancestry and marital status. It is considered highly insulting to be unable to recognise a person’s power and position by his moko.

The male facial moko or tattoo is generally divided into eight sections of the face:

The centre of the forehead called the ngakaipikirau, designated a person’s general rank

The area under the brows, called ngunga, designated his position

The area around his eyes and nose, uirere, designated his hapu, or sub-tribe rank

The area around the temples, uma, served to detail his marital status, like the number of marriages he had

The area under the nose, raurau, displayed the man’s signature that was once memorised by tribal chiefs who used it when buying property, signing deeds and officiating orders

The cheek area, or taiohou, showed the nature of the person’s work

The chin area, wairua, showed the person’s mana or prestige

Lastly, the jaw area or taitoto designated a person’s birth status

It can also be noted that a person’s ancestry is indicated on each side of the face. The left side is generally the father’s side and the right side the mother’s. Noble or note-worthy descent was a primary requirement before a moko was undertaken.

If one side of a person’s ancestry was not of rank, the corresponding side of the face would not have any design tattooed on it. And if the person undertaking the moko has no rank, or is not heir to anything of note then the centre of the forehead would be left without design.

For more on this, see this site:  http://www.zealandtattoo.co.nz/tattoo-styles/maori-tattoos/

Rotorua - for the Culture

The Maori have a rich culture, steeped in tradition and legend. Legend is passed down through the generations by story telling - stories that tell of the creation of the islands of New Zealand and much more.

Maraes, (communal "plaza" areas where the Maori people meet), provide a focus for social, cultural and spiritual life within the Maori community. The Marae includes a wharenui (meeting house) and wharekai (dining room).

While in Rotorua  we will have a chance to have a traditional maori feast, the Hangi.  This is a technique similar to the Hawaiian Umu, using an "earthen oven", which results in the food having a distinctive smoky earthy flavour.  Yum!

Maori people define themselves by their tribe, or iwi. Family is very important within the Maori culture, and encompasses immediate family, in-laws and all those connected by blood ties.

Dance for the Maori people is a very important part of their culture. Kapa haka (Maori performance art), incorporates singing, dancing and facial expressions. Each action within the dance has a meaning, tying it to the words. The traditional Maori war dance, known as the haka, is performed by the All Blacks (our National Rugby Team), before each game.

click here for more about the haka and the All Blacks

Here is a link to a YouTube of the All Blacks performing a Haka at the beginning of the World Cup Rugby Finals.  Its intimidating! All Blacks Perform Haka

Rotorua - for the Geysers

This is a photo of the Pohutu Geyser in Te Puia, one of the reasons people flock to this region.  The geo-thermal activity is spectacular, and the attractions include all that a geothermal spa might indicate.  From the scenery, to the fun of waiting for a geyser to erupt (this one goes about 20 times a day I see) to mud spas (good for the skin I'm told), Rotorua draws many visitors.  

Check out this web site for more information:  http://www.newzealand.com/int/geothermal+rotorua/

Our Hotel website is here:  novotel-rotorua-lakeside

Googlemap location:  google.ca/maps/place/Novotel+Rotorua+Lakeside

Agrodome Visit, includes more about farming, sheep herding (and sheep dogs!)

Agrodome Visit May include these!    (double click on this underlined link for a short video!)

 This link to a short  youtube link for the Agrodome.  For folks who have been to the Calgary Stampede or other Agricultural 'fair' this will be familiar.  Of course, with all the sheep in NZ, there are also some pretty fabulous sheep dogs!  Lets hope we get to see some dogs hard at work!

Waitomo Glowworm Caves

Pictures speak a thousand words, and these show why we will enjoy the visit to the Waitomo Caves.  When you tell me we are going on a short boat ride through caves to see the glowing bellies of thousands of worms...well, I'm a bit skeptical about the experience.  However, show me these two photos, and I cannot wait to experience this for myself.  

The glow worms proper name is Arachnocampa luminosa, and it is only found in New Zealand.  Their luminescent light is similar, to my way of thinking, as seeing a firefly light up the night.  Guides will tell  us all about the glowworms, and also let us in on the caves historical and  geological significance.   Should be fun and fascinating!

Why do a Farmstay?

Farms are a big part of the New Zealand way of life and both the North and South Islands features sprawling farming landscapes, grazing cattle and sheep.  Ever since the introduction of refrigerated shipping in 1882, people all over the world have enjoyed  dairy and meat exports from New Zealand.

Traveling  through New Zealand we’ll discover seemingly endless open pastures, colourful orchards and sun drenched vineyards.  While sheep, cattle and dairy (milk producing) farms are most common, there is  also  deer, goats, horses, pigs and even llama in paddocks throughout the country.

There are plenty of opportunities to watch sheep shearing, learn about deer and goat farming, experience sheep dogs working, milk a cow or a goat, feed lambs or go on an interactive tour of a farm. Salmon and eel farms offer firsthand encounters with fish, and the prawn farm near Taupo cleverly uses warm geothermal waters for aquaculture.

A farmstay accommodation is a great way to meet some of the locals and experience rural life.  We will have this opportunity to have a chance to see what it is like to live on a farm here, and get to know the farmers challenges and celebrations.  And maybe a chance to taste some of their delicious farm-to-table fare!

We will stay on a number of farms, in smaller groups, in the area around Cambridge.  It will be fun to share our adventures with one another when we re-group to head to Rotorua!

"New Zealand Christmas Trees"

In November, the Pohutukawa trees will begin to bloom, and  we will enjoy seeing them as we travel.  They are called "New Zealand Christmas Trees", a type of myrtle.  Here is some information from Wikipedia:  

Metrosideros excelsa (pōhutukawa, New Zealand pohutukawa,^[2] New Zealand Christmas tree^[3]) is a coastal evergreen tree in themyrtle family, Myrtaceae, that produces a brilliant display of red (or occasionally orange, yellow^[4] or white^[5]) flowers made up of a mass ofstamens. The pōhutukawa is one of twelve Metrosideros species endemic to New Zealand. Renowned for its vibrant colour and its ability to survive even perched on rocky, precarious cliffs, it has found an important place in New Zealand culture for its strength and beauty and is regarded as a chiefly tree (rākau rangatira) by Māori.^[6] The blossom of the tree is called kahika.^{[3]New Zealand Christmas Trees}