Waimangu Volcanic Valley: We got to see a valley that was created after a volcanic explosion in 1886. The land is protected and Māori owned. It was very interesting to see how the land is growing back on its own. It’s a glimpse to the beginning of the world. The geothermal springs of the valley are powerful enough to power all of Aotearoa.
Redwood Forest: The Sequoia trees were brought over from the west coast of the United States. For a while they were being cutdown and being used for timber. The trees are now protected. I was really grateful to be able to visit them here since I haven’t seen them at home in California.
Tamaki Village: We got an inside look at a Māori village and were able to learn some of the Poi and the Haka first hand. We also got the chance to play some of their games and learn a bit of the Māori language. Personally it was very interesting to learn first hand the traditional uses of the plants. We also learned the process of the face tattoos and how Māori people receive their own unique tattoo designs.
