Still Sunday, 20 November

Leaving Auckland, NZ

Because of a number of changes in the cruise itinerary, based on weather and/or available berthage, the Westerdam will spend only one-half day in this largest of New Zealand cities, before another two-and-a-half sailing days back to Sydney, where I will start the second half of this 28-day cruise. But before getting to Auckland, you already know that I will be in Tauranga for two days.

Thursday, 18 Nov 2022

First Day in Tauranga/Mt Maunganui, New Zealand

Although the cruise itinerary says we are docked in Tauranga, the port is actually in neighboring Mt. Maunganui. Tauranga/Mt Maunganui is New Zealand's largest and busiest port. You can locate Tauranga on the map of the North Island below, just in the center of the Bay of Plenty on the Pacific Ocean eastern side

Below is a more detailed map that shows the relationship between the two cities. The Westerdam is docked directly below the words, "Mount Maunganui" on the west side of the isthmus. There is a local ferry between the two communities that I will make use of tomorrow.

Shore Excursion to Rotorua

Today's shore excursion takes me inland to Rotorua, the center of a huge ancient caldera. The surrounding are is filled with beautiful lakes and forests, but at the center of the caldera lies "Hell's Gate," the destination today. The drive from Tauranga/Mt Manganui to Rotorua lies through hilly forests, dotted with small lakes--that is once you get away from the port city traffic and the freeway construction.

Along the road from Tauranga to Rotorua

Most of the land of New Zealand was formed by glaciers, volcanoes, and earthquakes. Millenia ago, now dormant volcanoes pushed up the land mass of both islands from the sea. Glaciers on the west coast of the South Island created jagged coastline and beautiful fiords, such as Milford Sound. And more recently, earthquakes in Christchurch on the South Island and Napier on the North have created havoc and destruction. At least the earthquake in Napier also added a huge swath of fertile land in what once had been a swampy lagoon.

Scenes at "Hell's Gate," a Maori-Owned Site,

Given It's English Name by George Bernard Shaw,

of All People

In addition to the geysers and boiling mud pools, "Hell's Gate" offers a walk through a rainforest, with lots of vegetation I have never seen before.

Upon the return to Mt Maunganui, our driver gives us a tour of the beaches and residential area, as well as a good look at Mt Mauganui itself, but I will save that for the next blog. Although thunderstorms had been predicted in the area, the rain keeps away until we are well back on board the Westerdam.