A big day today. This morning we are off to Hell's Gate and then this evening we have a cultural experience at Te Pā Tū
Hell's Gate - Wow!! What a spot - Barren, hot, steamy (steam everywhere, from boiling mud, bubbling pools and even from tiny holes in the ground. And it is so well done. We had a map to follow with each feature numbered and explained. The walk takes you through the native bush, often scared by the thermal activity. Around every turn you experience something different - from cooking pools and steaming cliffs to the largest hot waterfall in the Southern Hemisphere. All just amazing.
Like much of Rotorua, Hell’s Gate and the surrounding region are steeped in legend. Over 650 years ago a Māori princess named Hurutini lived in the area. She was married to a Māori chief whose lack of respect and mistreatment drove her to take her own life by throwing herself in a boiling pool. When she found her daughter, Hurutini’s mother let out an anguished cry “Auē tāku tiki nei”. This cry was shortened to Tikitere, the sacred name Hell’s Gate is known by today. Thanks to its beauty and healing properties Tikitere has been a destination for spa and nature seekers since 1871. In 1934 noted Irish playwright, George Bernard Shaw, visited and cited it as inspiration to change his once atheist beliefs. In awe of the boiling mud and steam billowing into the sky, Shaw is said to have exclaimed “this could be the very gates of hell.” On hearing this, local Māori decided the English name for the area would become Hell’s Gate. Quite a story.
We finished our time at Hell's Gate with a mud bath - their info says "once bathed in by Māori warriors, the mud and waters of Tikitere have soothed battle-scarred bodies for centuries. To this very day our nutrient-rich water relaxes the body, while our mud gently exfoliates the skin. Take the time out to experience this healing for yourself, with a soak in the sulphur pool and full body mud coverage. You’ll leave rejuvenated and fresh, ready for the rest of your adventure". I'm not sure that it was all that but it was quite enjoyable all the same.
After lunch at Hell's Gate, it was back to Whyndham for a rest before setting off once again for our evening experience at Te Pā Tū . Te Pā Tū itself is some way out of town on the road south to Lake Taupo so the experience starts at the Gathering Centre in Rotorau. From there it's a short coach trip to the site.
The event is held in a traditional forest Pā (village) and is a feast on song, drama, tradition, and seasonal kai (cuisine). The traditional hāngi joined seasonal Māori delicacies prepared with fusion cooking techniques. Cultural knowledge unique to each season is shared through rituals, songs, and stories across the evening as is the local, seasonal kai (food) - plentiful and delicious. It was a fun night.
