Archive for the 'Rotorua' Category
Te Puia
May 26th, 2010
I met with Patrick Tamati of Te Puia and caught up on what’s happening at Te Puia, the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute.
Te Puia was set up by legislation in 1963 to foster the customary art forms of Maori. Since then, Te Puia has nurtured and trained hundreds of artists in carving, weaving and other skills, including kappa haka (Maori performing arts).
Te Puia also offers a range of guided tours throughout the day as well as Te Po, an evening cultural experience. It is a feast for the senses – full of culture, storytelling, entertainment and Maori cuisine. At the end, you are taken to view Pohutu, their famous geyser under the stars.
Click here to see additional images.
I Want To Be A River Rat!!
May 25th, 2010
River Rats Raft & Kayak have been offering quality adventures around Rotorua for over 25 years. There’s something for everyone, from a gentler scenic raft trip through to full on action adventure!
There is a huge range of options for families and adrenaline junkies. Check out the website, it sure looks like fun to me!
Up, Up and Away…With Volcanic Air Safaris
May 25th, 2010
Ann Parker
I got to spend a bit of time with my friends Ann and Dorien from Volcanic Air Safaris yesterday. They offer the choice of a floatplane or helicopter to view some of the most dramatic geothermal and volcanic landscapes of Rotorua and the central Bay of Plenty District.
Some of the most popular flights are over the dormant crater of Mount Tarawera. This volcano erupted in spectacular fashion in 1886 and the remains of an eight kilometre crater scar can be viewed from above. The region is splattered with hot lakes, steaming cliffs and wonderful scenes of geothermal parks such as Waimangu, Orakei Korako and Wai-O-Tapu – and they are incorporated into the flights. Of course, there is also the once-in-a-lifetime experience of landing the helicopter on New Zealand’s most active marine volcano, White Island.
One of the key things at Volcanic Air Safaris, apart from the vivacious Ann and charming Dorien, is that the team is focused on providing an exceptional tourism experience. Their pilots are highly skilled and have a passion for and knowledge about the area. So not only do they keep you safe, but they also provide you with lots of great information about the area’s history and culture.
For anyone with a passion for planes, they have the de Havilland Otter – a 10-passenger floatplane. The only one in New Zealand, I am told.
Touring with Volcanic Air Safaris is definitely on my “must do” list when I return!
Ahhhhh…Polynesian Spa
May 24th, 2010
TRENZ has started in full force and there is a lot to tell you about!
Overlooking Lake Rotorua is New Zealand’s leading international mineral springs spa, Polynesian Spa.
This is nothing like what we would experience in North America. Here, the experience is about thermal bathing. Guests can select from four pool areas: the Deluxe Lake Spa with scenic rock-pool bathing; the Adult Pools and Priest Spa with a variety of pools; the Intimate Private Pools; or the Fun Family Spa.
The Polynesian Spa is a world top ten spa (medical/thermal/natural category) as voted by members of the prestigious Conde Nast Traveler Magazine from 2004-2007 & 2009.
There is quite a history in Rotorua for thermal baths and hot mineral bathing. It dates back over 125 years on the Polynesian Spa site.
With everything going on here at TRENZ, I dream of relaxing at the Polynesian Spa.
Click here to see additional images.
Back To Nature – Wild Food Cooking Experience
May 21st, 2010
After ZORB®, I headed to Treetops Lodge. What a spectacular place! Just driving up the long (and I do mean long) driveway took my breath away. The lodge is beautiful and sits peacefully in its forest surroundings. There are also several cabins that are scattered throughout the property.
Treetops is a sanctuary and a retreat of breathtaking terrain in 2,500 acres of secluded native forest. It’s a game reserve, has seven trout streams, four lakes, over 70 kilometers of hiking trails, mountain biking, horseback riding, and offers the ultimate in tranquility and splendour.
At Treetops, Maori chef Eru Tutakl took great care of me during the Wild Food Cooking Experience. He and I took a hike through the pristine wilderness of the 800-year old forest, looking for plants that would be included in the meal that Eru was going to show me how to make.
We started with a small prayer to say thank you. It was very spiritual and I have to admit that this was one of those moments when something shifts and you realize you see the world differently now. I think that, for most of us, we’re so used to going to the grocery store and seeing veggies and fruit piled high, that we forget that it comes from the earth. Standing in the forest as Eru showed me different plants and talked about the connection between our food and the earth, it made me realize that I take the abundance that we live in for granted. If I want a salad, I go to the store and buy a bag of lettuce, some tomatoes and other things. I never stop to think about what it took to grow the food.
Eru is extremely knowledgeable and shared his Maori culture generously. For all of the interesting tours and presentations that I have seen, this experience was so authentic that I felt a connection with the Maori people of today and yesterday. It gave me a much appreciated glimpse into a very special culture.
Eru and I talked a lot about the value of respecting the earth and what it means when you make that connection between where food comes from and what you eat. It sounds incredibly simple, but seeing a plant in the forest, picking it yourself and then half an hour later eating that plant as part of a salad is a pretty amazing experience.
That’s what Eru brings. While he is a chef (and a great one, at that!), he doesn’t just feed you, he nourishes your soul with the wild food experience.
Back in the incredible kitchen at Treetops Lodge, I sat at the bar. It faces into the working kitchen that, I have to admit, is the kitchen of my dreams. Eru walked me through the preparation of venison with mushroom, tomato, sweet potato, beets and a salad – prepared with the plants we had gathered in the forest.
It was a simple meal, but exceptional. And thanks to Eru, I now have a much greater appreciation for the bounty provided by the earth. I also have a recipe that will impress and, I hope, impact my friends when I make it for them. I won’t be able to take them out into the forest to gather the food, but I think I will be able to pass Eru’s message to respect the earth and appreciate what we eat – in a delicious way.
Click here to see additional images.