ShirleyNZandOrangs: More Maori,Trees, Gardens & Rivers

After last evening's entertainment, I went for look (& sniff?) at some of the smellier places in Rotorua ;-) There was a big park near the digs, so I headed there.
On the way I found a steaming mud pool :-) & yes, it was smelly. But then so was Rotorua :-O
The big building is a museum & cafe, but the trees were nice & knobbly & Rachel's Spring's name in Maori begins with an F sound - Remember?

I went left round the back of the museum & found some Pukeko having a swim in a pool at the edge of the golf course. There were loads on the course, but they kept walking off when I tried a pic. Obviously want to keep their privacy ;-p

Down by the lake I saw the paddle steamer & little islands with birds on

A cute little beach - but I wasn't in a bikini, so no could swim :-(

This was my 1st sight of one of Rotorua's black swans.

At this point, I didn't know about their white wings

Then I found a shed with a massive war canoe in it.

I did say it was massive!

Unfortunately, there were no humans nearby to give it persepective

Aren't they awesome?

No idea why this one had her leg out of the water. Drying her nail varnish?

Then I heard an engine noise & saw a sea plane taking off. I'd've liked a tour in it. Maybe next time? ? ? ? ?

More black swans, but I can't remember what the little birds are - it's more than a year since I took these pics.

Away from the lake I went to a Maori village. This was their church.

And a monument of some sort right next to another steaming hole!

This was their Marai. I spent frikkin ages waiting for the German walking off shot to stand up & move from where he's been sitting on the right by the big pole. Ignorant bugger.