Today we decided to explore the lakes around Rotorua and what better way to do it than to take a Duck Tour in an amphibious WWII landing craft.
We picked up the tour in downtown Rotorua with guide Ester and driver/piolet, Alex and headed out past the Redwoods to Lake Tikitapu (the Blue Lake). Amazing how you can drive from the road straight down the ramp and into the water. Today we are being accompanied by a second "duck" which had been in for mechanical repairs and was on a test run.
The area was vastly altered by the volcanic eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886. Prior to the eruption, it was home to many small Māori villages and missionary settlements. The area became the birthplace of New Zealand tourism. Visitors would travel through Tarawera on their way to visit the Pink and White Terraces on the neighbouring Lake Rotomahana. These geothermal pools, made from silica deposit formations, were labelled as the 8th Natural Wonder of the World, and news of this ‘geothermal wonderland’ spread to the far away Victorian world.Tarawera villagers would host these visitors in the missionary accommodation houses, and entertain them with Māori cultural performances and traditionally cooked hangi meals, starting the tradition of hosting and guiding that Rotorua is still known for today.
The eruption of Mount Tarawera completely devastated the area, burying the villages and the Pink and White Terraces under mud and ash.
From Lake Tarawera it was back to Rotorua. Ester did a fantastic job as guide and it was a very pleasant way to see some of the Rotorua countryside.
Back in Rotorua we headed for another walk around Kuirau Gardens before heading for the the Thursday night market to grab some dinner before heading back to our accommodation.
