Tauranga and Rotorua, NZ, 22 Jan 2012

Tauranga and Rotorua, NZ, Day 14


Tauranga and Rotorua, NZ, 22 Jan 2012

21 Jan 2012 84
Rosey-fingered Dawn paints the sky above a distant isle as we near the entrance of the harbor at Tauranga. Tauranga...the name itself conjuring visions of thatched huts and beautiful, dark-eyed native women tending fires as their men take to the sea in outrigger canoes.

Tauranga and Rotorua, NZ, 22 Jan 2012

21 Jan 2012 86
The heart quickens in expectation of South-sea mystery as we catch sight of a long-dead volcano cone sitting in the bay.

Tauranga and Rotorua, NZ, 22 Jan 2012

21 Jan 2012 83
So much for dreams of thatched huts and grass skirts.

Tauranga and Rotorua, NZ, 22 Jan 2012

Tauranga and Rotorua, NZ, 22 Jan 2012

21 Jan 2012 81
Ah, well. So much for mystery and romance.

Tauranga and Rotorua, NZ, 22 Jan 2012

21 Jan 2012 83
The natives come out to greet us.

Tauranga and Rotorua, NZ, 22 Jan 2012

Tauranga and Rotorua, NZ, 22 Jan 2012

Tauranga and Rotorua, NZ, 22 Jan 2012

21 Jan 2012 84
First stop, the beach

Tauranga and Rotorua, NZ, 22 Jan 2012

Tauranga and Rotorua, NZ, 22 Jan 2012

21 Jan 2012 82
Beautiful countryside.

Tauranga and Rotorua, NZ, 22 Jan 2012

Tauranga and Rotorua, NZ, 22 Jan 2012

21 Jan 2012 80
Interesting towns

Stopping at the Kiwi fruit center

Tauranga and Rotorua, NZ, 22 Jan 2012

21 Jan 2012 77
Our guide, Jim, gives us the basics on the kiwi fruit, which grows on a vine.

Tauranga and Rotorua, NZ, 22 Jan 2012

21 Jan 2012 93
Under the arbor examining the crop

Kiwi fruit on the vine

Not a halo, a kiwi fruit.

21 Jan 2012 132
Tauranga and Rotorua, NZ, 22 Jan 2012

72 items in total