Day 6 in New Zealand

We flew back to Auckland early this morning and drove to Rotorua. Rotorua is in the central part of the North Island and is surrounded by geothermal activity. We went to the village of Whakarewarewa (which is actually the shortened version of the name) where we saw lots of hot mineral pools and geysers. For centuries, a Maori tribe has lived off of the land. For example, they were able to keep warm in shacks because the ground is so hot. They cook their food in steam vents and mineral pools. They even have a bathing area. It was pretty cool. Only about sixty people live there today, mostly earning money with tourist shops. We learned about the Maori traditions and culture and watched a song and dance performance. It was kind of like a smaller, less flashy version of PCC. James introduced me to kumara, a cousin to the sweet potato and yam. It was pretty tasty. For the rest of the afternoon, we walked around the town and relaxed at the hotel.