Rotorua, N. Z.- February 12, 2017

Another day with an early start as we were on the bus at 7:30 am leaving the city of Auckland on the motorcoach to our next destination.  After a couple hours of travel through dairy farming territory we made a stop at Waitomo Glow Worm Grotto.  We had a tour guide that took us through a limestone cave until we came to a river running through the cave at which that time we boarded boats and quietly without any lights or noise the guide propelled the boat by pulling along overhead lines.  Glow worms with their lights illuminated the cave ceiling like stars in the sky.  These "worms" are really larva of a type of fly and not really worms.
Continuing on we stopped in a small town to get a quick lunch, half an hour.  And then we were back on the bus to the Agrodome Sheep Show.  This show started by displaying  18 sheep each one a different breed on a stage.  Two sheep dogs were brought on stage to demonstrate their obedience to commands.  The show ended with an outside sheep herding demonstration with sheep dogs.  Then we were back on the bus for a short ride to Rotorua and the Millenium Hotel where we will stay tonight.  Our luggage had been dropped off and placed in our rooms while we were at the sheep show.  We barely had time to catch our breath when we again loaded onto a bus to a native village, Tamaki Family Marae, for a show and a traditional Maori Hangi dinner.  The food was cooked in a pit in the ground.  Good meal- chicken, fish, lamb, carrots, sweet potatoes, potatoes and salad and dessert.  Nice evening but a long day.