ロトルアの自然に触れる Feel the nature in Rototua

オークランド滞在中、ロトルアに２回訪れました。ロトルアへは車で３時間程。日帰りもできますが、アトラクションがたくさんあって１日では楽しみきれません。

Whilst living in Auckland, I visited Rotorua twice. It takes three hours by car, so it's possible to return the same day. However there are too many attractions for a day trip.

１回目は温泉地帯とマオリ族（ニュージーランドの先住民族）の村の文化見学。硫黄のにおい漂うこの町では、ぶくぶく沸き出る泥や湯気、また２０ｍ位吹きあがる間欠泉が見られます。北海道の登別地獄谷の大規模版みたいな感じで迫力がありました。ロトルアはマオリ族最大の集落があった地域で、古くから温泉が利用されてきたとのこと。登別でも昔アイヌ人（北海道の先住民族）が温泉を薬湯として利用していたらしいので、自然に湧き出る温泉はどこにおいても神の恵みだったんですね。

The first visit was to the geothermal area and the Maori Village which shows the culture of the original inhabitants of NZ, the Maoris. In this area, which smelled of sulphur, there was mud and steam bubbling up from the ground or water, and a geyser shooting up 20 meters. It looked similar to the Hell Vally in Noboribetsu, Hokkaido, Japan, but larger and more powerful. Once, there was the biggest Maori village in New Zealand in Rotorua and Maori people have long used the hot spring water. In Noboribetsu, Ainu the original inhabitants of Hokkaido used to make use of the hot spring for medical purposes. Natural hot water has been a godsend everywhere.

２回目の目的はカヤックとラフティング。１日目湖上カヤック。ほぼ初心者の私はまっすぐ進めずみんなについていくのに一苦労。湖岸の温泉までたどり着いてお湯に浸かった時は極上の喜びでした。漕いで帰るのが余計辛くなりましたが、絶景露天風呂が楽しめて幸せでした。

２日目ラフティング。急流でスリル満点。最後にはボートから飛び降りて川を流れてみました。（注；インストラクターがＯＫと言った場所です。）ライフジャケットを着ていたのですが、溺れるかと思いました。楽しかった。

My second visit was for kayaking and rafting. On my first day, I went lake kayaking. For a beginner like me, it was difficult to go straight, so I had to row frantically to keep up with other members. It was a great joy when I got to a hot spring on the shore and soaked in the hot water. It was heaven relaxing in the open-air hot pool with a great view, although it discouraged me to row back.

On my second day, I went rafting. Shooting the rapids was thrilling. At the end, I jumped into the river and floated in the rapids, when the instructor said it was OK to jump in. I thought that I would drown even though I was wearing a life jacket. It was fun.

実はオークランドを立ってから旅の途中にも一度ロトルアに立ち寄りました。バスガイドさんが温泉が湧き出て川が暖かくなっている場所に連れて行ってくれたのです。水着で温い濁った水に浸かって、なんだか原始人の気分でした。どんな形にせよ、温泉はすばらしいです。

In fact, after leaving Auckland for traveling, I dropped by Rotorua again. Our bus guide took us to a river which was warmed by hot bubbling water. We soaked into the lukewarm muddy water. I felt as if I was a primitive woman. Whatever the tub is, hot springs give me joy.