1973 School Magazine

nn F{amitrton there was a very large Mormon move- .ment with International School, and recreation fac- itrities. Went tfuough Waitomo glow-worm caves - very spectacular and beautiful. Arrived in Rotorua fairly late - and were hit by the smell. None of B.G.G.S. labs could ever even come near to -Rotorua's perfume. Day 3-Apart from the smell Rotorua has many other added attractions - very unexpectedly you are likely to either step in boiling mud pools or geysers of boiling water. Visited Ohinemuhi - a Maori village where we were entertained in the bus by four Maori children (there is still argument with regards to the sex of one or two of them).

I-unch at tr-ake Taupo, where Frince Charles quite approves of the world-class trout fishing. SNOW-Grammar girls had wished for snow so hard that it snowed at Ngaurohoe for the first time since 1956. F{ere there were snowballs to end all snowballs. Spent the night (in rather crowded conditions) in Wellington and we nearly lost some girls when they went up to Mt. Victoria where winds go up to 60 mlhr. Day 5-Tn the morning we looked all around the city of Wellington, then in the afternoon boarded the ferry for Picton. Without mentioning any names, some people were quite i11, or just drugged on Miss Neils "Tummy-cement," and missed the excitment of the roughest stretch of water in the world. Well, we had finished our tour of the North Island, and entered Queen Charlotte Sound Gateway to the South Island. Spent the night in Nelson. Day 6-Most of this day was spent travelling alongside the beautiful tsutrler Creek, and in general the most beautiful area of N.Z. - the West coast of the North Island. Stopped to look at the Fancake Rocks. F,ntered the ex-go1d mining town of Greymouth. Somewhere none of us will forget. We stayed at the Youth Hostel (it cost us 3c an hour sleep).

We learnt the 19 breeds 0f N.Z. sheep, at a sheep show which was presented at Expo in Japan. Rainbow Springs, home of the Rainbow now entertained us in the rain. Real maori-hungi lunch, then Maori concert. We were put to shame by a four year-old who could expertly use 3 poi-pois, and we could not manage one. Visited the futs and Crafts where we were shown how all Maori crafts are made. We were escorted through a Maori village and our guide explained (her) native way of life. While she was escorting us round she took her dinner from one of the boiling pools (a brilliant green colour) in which she had placed it an earlier hour. She told us that the smell did not permeate, nor the colour dye the chicken she had had boiled naturally but in any case, she did not have any Grammar girls begging for an invitation for dinner. Spent an afternoon of damnation at Hell's Gates, a very lively volcanic area. Spent another night in Rotorua. Day 4-Travelled a lot during the morning, visiting only the Rogue-Bore - a man-made volcano. Men were boring and wells to harness steam for the WairakeiPower Station, but this bore got quite out of control. All around the area'gyrates, vibrates, shivers and shakes,' and to really get 'the feel' you had to sit near the edge on newspaper.

Day 7-Panned for gold at Shantytown. Everyone left with their own bottle of gold - unfortunately it was in grains not nuggets. Visited a Greenstone Factory at Hokahlci (Financial supplies greatly depleted, but hordes of presents increased). Firstlook at a glacier -Franz Josef. At night scime of us went to slides presented by the Ranger of the afea, Overnight at the beautiful Fox Glacier Hotel. Day 8-Went out to Lake Mathieson - the famous reflection lake - Some girls went hiking up the glacier with a guide (unfortunately it was too dangerous for them to go far) and the others took a helicopter ride over the glacier. )r