Rotten Eggs and a Falcons flight

12th Jan 22.21 NZ time

Well, we did go for a walk at dusk. Covered ourselves in mozzie spray and armed with a torch took the path leading up into the bush. We came to a lake and listened to the sounds of frog calls but saw no glow worms. On we went walking up a very steep slope with overhanging branches. Still, no glow worms. Ian shone the torch around and disturbed those birds already roosting for the night, but not a glow worm to be seen. We must have walked nearly a 1km before giving up. By now only the light from the full moon shone to show us the way back. Very disappointed but at least it got us out of the van for an hour and those night sounds.....chilling and very eerie!

This morning our journey took us to Rotorua. A geothermal hotspot, spouting geysers, boiling mud pools, warm geothermal springs and silica terraces. We had one stop on the way to look at the Waipapa dam near Arapuni village, not much to see really but pretty nevertheless.

Lovely view of the dam to 'chew the cud'

 The sulphur smell hit us before we had even entered Rotorua, a smell of rotten eggs caused by the geothermal pools but it is said that bathing the sulphur rich mineral waters is supposed to be very good for the body and mind and the mud even better if used as skin cleansing, to help remove dead skin cells and repairing one's skin. So far only our feet has benefited. We have yet to experience the 'full works'.

Much too hot to bathe in

Having secured a campsite it was off to see the national bird of prey centre, Wingspan. A New Zealand Falcon was to be flown at 2 pm and, arriving well in advance, made use of their free tea and coffee on offer and a look at the other birds of prey. Couldn't get any good photos because of the mesh bars but got some brilliant ones of the Falcon flight.

Catching the meat in mid-air.

 Before going back to the tourist park we headed off for a wander around Lake Rotorua and Sulphur Point.

See next photo for a description of the bottom picture

Seaplane landing on the lake

 An activity day tomorrow. As old as we are we have booked a zip line canopy 3-hour tour. There are 6 zip lines, swing bridges and treetop platforms up to 22 metres high. Not sure if we are brave or just completely mad. Will reveal all on tomorrow's post....if I am still in my right mind to write!