Flying Downhill, Sheep and a Feast

Thursday morning was another ripper. 29 degrees and sunny. We sprang out of the cot for an 7.45am departure. Breakfast was at the Skyline Restaurant. This joint can only be accessed from a gondola ride up the mountain. The view was spectacular even though our window tables made it just a little warm. Breakfast was not bad at all either.

After brekkie, if one wanted, there was the option of a luge ride down the mountain. We decided to give it a go. So basically, you jump in a billy cart and steer and brake down the winding track to the bottom. Then on to a 2 person chair lift up to the top again. We chose the scenic route. There was also an intermediate route and an advanced route. It was terrific and we went down for a second time. I graduated

to the intermediate route on the goading of a couple of English gentlemen from our tour and they were too quick for me. The previous evening, English Ron had proposed we compete for the Ashes as we had equal representation in the group and being suitably lubricated, I readily agreed. Sadly, I lost the Ashes that our cricket team had just won. The media just haven’t heard about that yet.

From the luge rides, the Agrodome was next on the agenda. We had a sheep dog demonstration. Now, Ron and I could hardly contain our enthusiasm! Well I am not afraid to say I/we were wrong. It was much better than I possibly could have envisioned.

On arrival at the Agrodome, it was starting to get very warm (around 30) with bugger all breeze. The infamous Rotorua Sulphur Aroma was starting to descend on us after being almost unnoticeable prior to this. There is absolutely no need for any boys humour here, I have heard it already.

After a short demo to whet our appetites, we wandered into a big hall called the Agrodome. Shayne, not Shorn, bounced onto stage at 11am and the show commenced. He introduced 15 breeds of sheep prevalent in NZ and had an animal from each breed of sheep sit on one of the 15 podiums on stage. He then proceeded to shear a sheep on stage, all the time, interacting with the audience.

He actually was very funny and I don’t easily hand out compliments like that often but you really had to be there. He brought some of the audience up on stage for some funny routines. Then, a dairy cow was introduced and again, some of the audience joined him on stage. One woman from South Korea was terrified but he managed to help her milk the cow.

The final routine was with the sheep dogs who ran everywhere on his commands, especially over the backs of the 15 sheep on stage. As I said, you really had to be there but the show was worthwhile. Ron agreed with me.

Lunch was back in the town and then we had a spell until 4.30 when Dave was picking us up to visit a Maori cultural experience and geysers at Te Puia, about 10 minutes by coach from the centre of Rotorua. It was bloody hot when we boarded the train ride at the Maori Centre. The train took us to the geo-thermal site where 2 geysers were firing up and the mud pools were bubbling. We stayed there long enough too see them but the sun was beating down and we were all glad to get back to where the ceremonies were to commence. We experienced the traditional Maori welcome and concert. If you are into that sort of thing, it would have been enjoyable. Sadly, I am ambivalent to these. However, the vast majority seemed to really enjoy it.

Then we were shown to our tables for the Hangi, a traditional Maori meal cooked underground. The tucker was good but after a long day, it was good to get back to the hotel and bunker down for the night.