Weekend in Rotorua
This past Friday was the very well-rejoiced last day of classes for most students at Massey. With a few days over three weeks left in New Zealand, this weekend was absolutely the perfect time to head out of Palmerston North to explore more of the country before I leave. This weekend’s destination was Rotorua. Sulphur City, as one guide book calls the place, features natural hot springs, bubbling mud, and a looming smell of Sulphur.
Saturday morning, three of my friends and I caught the bus to Rotorua. Being excited to visit Rotorua, the five hour bus ride seemed to go rather fast. It soon became obvious when we arrived in Rotorua: we could smell the sulphur in the air. After we got off the bus, we checked into our hostel, sorted out some room issues, and then headed out to explore the town. We had a quick dinner at the Pig and Whistle restaurant and then relaxed for the night at the Polynesian Spa. At the Polynesian Spa, we soaked in various hot tubs containing the mineral water of the area. My favourite pool contained green water and reminded me of swimming in Hi-C or some type of tropical drink! Tired from the day, it was soon off to bed.
The next morning, we awoke, excited to be going Zorbing! What is zorbing? Zorbing, honestly, reminds me of a human size hamster ball. One or more people sit inside a large plastic ball and then go rolling down a hill. Normally, there are two zorbing options: dry, in which you are in a harness inside the ball, or wet, in which you sit in several gallons of water. After having a quick breakfast, we caught the bus out to the Zorbing location. When it was finally our turn to go zorbing, our first trip down the hill featured three of us in the ball going straight down the hill. I will admit, I was a bit nervous once we were in the ball together, however, it was such a fun thing to do. I laughed so hard, my cheeks were quivering when I got to the bottom of the hill. The second time I went, I came down a zig-zag course. If ever in New Zealand on the North Island, I would recommend almost anyone go Zorbing. Not only were the people there great, it was one fun time!
Sunday also included taking a gondola ride and going luging, which were also very exciting. Having enough adveneture for the day, we were ready to head back into town and get ready for dinner. Seven of us went to a cafe called the Fat Dog. Together, we represented six countries: Norway, Sweden, Germany, Australia, England, and America. Talk about a cultural experience!
Monday was our last day in Rotorua and also the Queen’s Birthday, a holiday celebrated in New Zealand on June first every year. We spent our morning exploring some shops and then walked out to the Rotorua Museum. We decided not to tour the museum and instead walked around Lake Rotorua. Time was quickly dwindling and before we knew it, it was time to board the bus back to Palmertson North. Rotorua was truly an amazing place to visit and a great end of the semester trip. I am now ready to begin studying for my finals!