We toured the National Kiwi Hatchery located just outside Rotorua. We learned about this amazing project dedicated to preserving the iconic, flightless and nocturnal bird the Kiwi (means Hidden Bird in Māori). The egg conservation story provided an insight into the lengths they are going through to protect this little bird from introduced predators. As part of our experience we were about to go into the Nocturnal House and the hatchery. In the hatchery we saw Kiwi chicks that were five days old. Photos were not allowed.

We then went to Ohinemutu, a living, breathing Māori village on the shores of Lake Rotorua.  This is home to the Ngati Whakaue (a subtribe of the Te Arawa iwi) who have shared their knowledge over the past 200 years with visitors (manuhiri). Our host introduced us to elements of the past and their traditions which are still upheld and cherished today, including communal bathing in hot baths. We visited the ornately carved St. Faiths Anglican Church where the bible is printed in TeReo Māori language and English. We were able to see their meeting house (Te Papaiouru Marae).

After lunch we went ziplining with Rotorua Canopy Tours.  It was a blast!!