We had dinner and a cultural show at Mitai Maori Village, where we learned a little about Maori traditions and had some good food, which was fun for the kids.
The tribe, paddling in on their canoe.
Our tribe, getting ready for dinner.
January 26, 2015
The Squeeze, NZ Riverjet, Rotorua/Taupo, North Island, New Zealand (January, 2015)
We headed south from Rotorua towards Taupo to go ride the NZ RiverJet boats and hike "The Squeeze," which is a naturally warm waterfall created by the local thermal hot springs mixing with the native river. To get there you have to "hike" and swim a little bit in warm water through some pretty narrow rocks.
Kemps and Whips doing power slides in the jet boat.
Cody, in the hot waterfall.
Getting washed away by the warm water from the hot waterfall.
Eliza, in the waterfall.
Ryder, enjoying the warm waterfall.
Hiding behind the waterfall.
The crew, making our way through "The Squeeze"
Family picture at the warm waterfalls.
More power sliding on the jet boats.
Sawyer and Paige, best friends making memories.
Whips and Kemps at the hot waterfall after "The Squeeze"
Beginning the hike to "The Squeeze."
Having fun on the boat.
Zander was loving the boat ride.
Zorbing at OGO Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand (January, 2015)
The first thing we wanted to do in Rotorua was Zorbing. Basically, they put you in a hollowed out giant plastic bubble and roll you down a hill. They fill it partially with water first so that you slide around in the bottom of the zorb instead of tumbling head over heels inside of it. We each got to take 2-3 runs down the hill on different courses and Cody and Rick tried the dry/harnessed zorb where you are strapped in and go tumbling head over heels down the hill. This was a very fun experience for all of the kids as well as the adults.
Sawyer and Paige jumping for joy after their first run.
Eliza and Alex with the victory jump.
Ryder and Levi inside the Zorb.
Sawyer and Paige inside the Zorb.
Mommy and Nash inside the Zorb.
Cody inside the orb for his first run.
Victory jump.
Eliza gives the Zorbs two thumbs up.
2nd victory jump.
Harnessed in and ready to go.
The straight course where 2 zorbs could race side by side.
Mommy and Nash's victory jump.
January 25, 2015
Hobbitton, North Island, New Zealand (January, 2015)
After leaving the gorge, we headed to Hobbitton to see the set of the Lord of the Rings movies. We really didn't know what to expect, but since we were there we thought we'd make a stop. We were pleasantly surprised. It was a beautiful area and fun to walk around all of the little hobbit houses.
Family picture just outside Bilbao Baggins' home.
Zander and Addy trying to sneak into their new playhouse.
Famous tree on top of the hill.
The kids playing in the field.
They gave us ginger beer after walking around in the sun.
Ryder with Harvey and Levi.
Beautiful lake at the bottom of the hill.
Great scenery, great friends.
More hobbit houses.
Pretending to be hobbits (wasn't too hard!)
Pretending to be hobbits (wasn't too hard!)
Looking into one of the houses.
Zander and Addy having fun.
Karangahake Gorge, North Island, New Zealand (January, 2015)
After leaving Hot Water Beach, we headed south towards Rotorua and made a stop at Karangahake Gorge. We had a good time going across the bridges and walking along the river and were able to walk through a ~1km tunnel in the dark.
Nash...all smiles.
Sawyer and Paige are inseparable.
Eliza with Zander and Addy.
Ryder and his best mate, Levi.
The river that we followed.
Zander got to ride in style.
Nash's with his buddy, Harvey.
Coming out of the very long tunnel.
Climbing down into some of the sealed off mines.
The crew on the trail.
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