Rotorua for Labour Holiday weekend!

Wow I have so much to share!!  It was a FABULOUS weekend!!  All of the Iowa girls came to my house on Friday night, we went out in downtown Auckland and then had a sleepover.  We went to some fun pubs with bands playing popular music we knew.  We danced all night long--4 am!  Beers were quite expensive at $8 each but most places have brewed their own or have local brews so it's fun to taste the different kinds. Apparently Kiwi girls don't really drink beer though so we stand out a bit.  On Sat morning we took our 3 hour bus ride to Rotorua which is south of Auckland.  Sat night we checked in to our 8 bed room hostel called "Crank Backpackers"  We went to a Maori culture performance and dinner on Sat night which reminded me a lot of a Luau in Hawaii.  They shared a lot of the New Zealand culture and history.  We got to see gloworms and gorgeous Maori men dancing!  http://www.mitai.co.nz/

Sunday we went zorbing which is an adventurous activity created by the Kiwi's.  You are basically inside a large hamsterball and go rolling down a large hill.  We were told to go in one with water so Justine and I paired up and threw on our swimsuits.  We were incredibly dizzy at the end, but it was extremely fun!!!!  I couldn't breathe I was laughing so hard!  http://www.zorb.com/rotorua

Also on Sunday we went to Hells Gate Spa where we took a walk around the natural hot spring mud baths and acutally got to take a mud bath ourselves.  It was extremely relaxing and made my skin smooth, but my hair still reeks of sulfur from the spa!  The walk was breathtaking and my pictures don't do it justice. http://www.hellsgate.co.nz/ 

Monday we took a walk around the town and lake then had to head home on the bus.  It was such a fun weekend where I became much closer with the Iowa/Indiana girls as well as got the chance to meet a lot of local Kiwi's!