Anything can Happen (Rotorua, New Zealand)

Well, hello my dedicated reader. I wasn't certain there would be time for this post. It is our last day in Rotorua and we had a very busy schedule planned, including a morning zip-lining in the canopy of the rainforest. I'm getting ahead of myself, first to the title.

In maintaining the Kiwi theme I have opted for a track from the Finn Brothers 2004 album Everyone is Here. And a classic it was. The title? Well, Jayne and I went zip-lining. Yes, you read that correctly. As you would know my knowledgeable reader, Jayne does not share my love of outdoor activity and is generally happy to bid me farewell and then welcome me home to hear the legendary tales. Not today. In Rotorua she joined me on the zip-line experience. And I have video proof. Which perhaps you'll never get to see because I like living. So, here's me instead:

We can't go without you seeing Jayne come in on the long line. 220metre and 70 metres above the ground. Here she is:

The zip-line centre is about 10 minutes drive from our hotel. We met the other intrepid travellers there at 9:15am. They are an Australian family via Ohio in America: mum, dad, two girls and grandma. Briefing over, we were dressed in harnesses and helmets and boarded the mini bus for the forest. Admittedly this is the first and only zip-line tour we've done, but these guys were ace (as they say over here, they are also sweet as, but don't, neither is cool). So, check out Rotorua Canopy Tours. Choice, eh bro? Don't say that either.

Our guides, Dana and Bessie - not sure of the latter, but that's what it sounded like - made a good team. It was all very light hearted despite the seriousness and safety was paramount. There were plenty of laughter and opportunities to learn about native forest and introduced species and what they have done to the flora and fauna. Australians hate rabbits and cane toads, but I believe the brush tailed possum is still doing more damage in NZ than either of those animals that were introduced. to Australia.

Looks cool from above

The tour operators have commenced an eradication program to rid their area and the surrounding bushland of possums, stoats, rats and other introduced species. Well done to them. We should all care more for the environment.

It was a great morning and well worth it. We all had fun and tested ourselves. Except perhaps for Lexi, the younger of the girls; she was fearless.

After the excitement of the morning it was time for breakfast, well, a light lunch. A glass of rosé to accompany my croque monsieur instead of a coffee from Pic Nic Café. Then a stroll to a nearby park where we saw steam rising from the ground. I understand that is not such an exciting phenomenon in this part of the world.

We found a pond in a nearby park that was seriously boiling. There is, of course a Maori legend to go with it that now sees the lake boiling in anger. The sulphur smell was reasonably strong and the heat and humidity were both high in proximity to the lake. It was far more impressive than Craters of the Moon. And it was free! And there was bubbling mud. I'm not sure I can explain my fixation here, but I was disappointed not see it yesterday. So, today, I filmed it:

The view from our window

It was about now that we were supposed to be driving back to Skyline to ride the gondola to the top ... well, half way up the mountain. We discussed it, but seriously, $34 an adult to ride halfway up a mountain to take a couple of photos and then come back down again. I could think of a better way to spend $68. In fact I did. A bottle of rosé in the bar, over looking the lake, enjoying the afternoon breeze and writing the latest blog post. Cheers, dear reader. And to prove a point, here is the view from our room. Tidy.

And now, given the disappointing attempts to post video ... I'm out ... until ... whenever, tomorrow, the next day, whatever.