On Feb 11, 2024, we docked at Tauranga, New Zealand, the fifth largest city in the country, and the largest port. Tauranga is located on the North Island of New Zealand and is known for its stunning landscapes and thriving economy. It serves a hub of trade, tourism and horticulture, with the surrounding region known for its kiwifruit orchards and avocado groves.

We started the day on an excursion to see the town, and then traveled to Rotorua, a geothermal area known for its bubbling mud baths, geysers, and hot springs, all fueled by intense heat from the volvanic activity deep below ground. We also learned how the ancient Maori considered this area Hell’s Gate and worshipped many gods associated with the area.

We left Hell’s Gate and went to a more beautiful area and took a boat ride on a peaceful lake and observed local New Zealand birds, and bubbling hot streams that fed into the lake. It was a very serene area that was surrounded by forests that are harvested and are a main export of the region.