Where's Johnny Jet: From Rotorua to Melbourne

G'day mate! I made it back to Australia! ? But before I write about Melbourne let's finish off where we left last week, at the exclusive Treetops Lodge on the North Island of New Zealand in Rotorua.

Helicopter Tours

As you read in last week's newsletter (here's a link to our archives), Treetops has it all! Guests really don't need to leave the 2,500-acre property unless they'e looking for some over-the-top adventure, and Treetops can arrange even that. The most exciting tour begins with a pickup by the local helicopter company, Helipro. They pick you up in one of their sweet helicopters on Treetops' landing pad. You can choose from a number of different tours. I took Mount Tarawera. We flew over spectacular volcanic crater lakes before landing on 3,680-foot high Mount Tarawera, a dormant volcano that last erupted in 1886. Once on the ground, we walked to the Mount Tarawera lookout. The views were incredible, but the path was a tad hairy -- especially for those (like me) with a fear of heights. Instead of going back to the lodge we flew to Lake Tarawera, passing breathtaking waterfalls along the way before landing on a beach next to a 50-foot yacht. Helipro (tel.: 64-7-357-2512) offers an array of tours, including a city flight that takes only 8 minutes and costs $85 NZD ($53 USD).

Lake Tarawera Cruise

Talk about feeling like a rock star: We went from a sleek helicopter to a 50-foot luxury power catamaran in 30 steps. For a second there I felt like I was Puff Daddy, but when I didn't see 50 bikini-clad women -- that's how many the boat holds -- I realized I was still me. Lake Tarawera is a huge, calm, deep and clear lake filled with an abundance of rainbow trout. I tried to catch one deep trolling, but after 10 minutes my ADHD kicked in and I moved on to the next activity: swimming. The surface water temperatures range from 53 F (the winter low) to 71 F (in the summer). However, there are beaches where the natural thermal waters spew out, making it too hot to go in. Instead of swimming in the lake, the captain took us to a popular hot spring just a short walk through the woods. A bunch of people of all ages just sat there, soaking in the warm water. After enjoying ourselves we had a late lunch, then drove an hour by carback to the lodge. Clearwater Charters.

Downtown Rotorua

Since Treetops is so close to downtown Rotorua, it would be silly not to at least check it out. I know it's smelly (from the geothermal activity) and cheesy (there is one motel after another, interspersed with American chains like Burger King, Sizzler and Blockbuster). But there are a few worthwhile places to visit. The Rotorua Government Gardens includes a beautiful Victorian building that houses the Rotorua Museum. The 50-plus acre property features the Blue Baths, lawn bowling, even golf. Rotorua is also the place to learn about native Maori culture (here's a helpful link). I didn't go to a Maori show because Didi (the horse whisperer from Treetops) took me to a wharenui (Maori "meeting house"). There I learned all about traditions like the one in which women (not men) have to take their shoes off before entering the wharenui and "the share of hongi" (pressing noses to signify exchange of "the breath of life").

Hokey Pokey

Before leaving downtown Rotorua, stop by Lady Jane's Ice Cream Parlour to try the "Hokey Pokey ice cream." It's the second most popular flavor (after vanilla) in New Zealand. Made with vanilla ice cream and bits of crunchy toffee, it's so good it might make you "put your right hand in¿".

Manuka Honey

If you want to bring a great yet inexpensive gift home, stop by a Pak N' Save (grocery store) for some manuka honey. It has exceptional antibacterial and healing powers, and is used to successfully treat many ailments, including ulcers and sore throats. It costs $15.50 NZD ($10 USD) -- just one-third of what you'd pay at the airport. Pak N' Save.

Kiwi Encounter

Those interested in seeing a real life kiwi (New Zealand's national symbol, a flightless bird on the brink of extinction) should hop on over to Kiwi Encounter for a 45-minute guided tour. You'll pass by a working hatchery and nursery. Go to the nocturnal area to see these eccentric birds come out and look for food, and view a "Kiwi Culture Exhibit." Tours depart every hour, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Admission prices: adult $26.50 NZD ($17 USD), children 5 to 15 years $16.50 NZD ($11 USD), children under 4 free. Family pack (2 adults, 2 children): $79 NZD ($50 USD). Kiwi Encounter, Fairy Springs Rd, Rotorua, New Zealand; tel. 64-7-350-0440.

Skyline and Luge

For the best views of Rotorua without going on a helicopter tour, take a 3,000-foot long 8-seat gondola. It goes 1,600 feet to the top of Mount Ngongotaha. This is Rotorua's most popular visitor attraction, and the short ride is definitely worth it. Don't worry if you're scared of heights: these brand-new gondolas are enclosed, and they don't travel far off the ground. At the top you'll enjoy panoramic views, and can go on the world's first luge ride. Travel halfway down the mountain on a paved, windy track in a 3-wheel cart. The carts are basic to operate; all you do is steer and brake. You can choose from 3 tracks: scenic (for those who want to go nice and slow, and stop along the way to take pictures), intermediate and advanced. Like an idiot I dropped and ruined my camera on the advanced track. It's fun for all ages -- especially those 6 and up, because they can take their own cart (younger riders have to go tandem). To get back up the mountain, there is a two-seat open air chairlift. That's a bit fearful for acrophobics. But there's a reward at the top: a 9-course buffet. Prices: gondola: adults $20 NZD ($13 USD), children $9 NZD ($6); luge: each ride is $7 NZD ($4.50); buffet lunch: $43 NZD ($27); buffet dinner: $55 ($35). Package deals are available. Skyline Skyrides, Rotorua, New Zealand; tel. 64-7-347-0027.

Zorbing

Now for the real fun! New Zealand is famous for adventure sports. The most popular is bungee jumping (but I wasn't about to jump from any bridges). Slowly gaining in popularity is zorbing. This involves people going down a hill inside a giant plastic ball. "Zorbonauts"(6 years and up) begin by diving like Superman through a narrow hole, then roll down the side of a mountain at a maximum speed of 31 mph. There are two ways to Zorb. One is the dry way, where you pretty much roll end over end with the ball. The other is "hydro-zorbing." Staff workers put a bucket's worth of warm water inside the ball. This makes it very slippery. Therefore you don't tumble over and over; instead you slide (mostly on your arse). These 200-pound balls are so big that they can fit up to 3 people standing. I was nervous about being claustrophobic, but that didn't happen at all -- even after the door was zipped shut. You don't have to worry about drowning or suffocating either. The zorb has two skins. The area in between is inflated, but the inner chamber is always open to the outside so fresh air comes in all the time. I went hydro-zorbing, and it was so much fun I had to do it twice.

More on zorbing: There are two types of tracks to choose from. Straight down the hill is just over 150 yards, and takes about 10 seconds. The zig-zag course is about 50 feet longer, and makes riders much more queasy ¿ or so I hear. Single rides cost $45 NZD ($28 USD); if you go with someone its $35 NZD ($22 each). Extra rides after that are $29 NZD ($18.50). Don't worry about getting your clothes wet; for $2 NZD ($1.25) they provide a clean zorbonaut outfit and towel. Although Rotorua is where zorbing was invented, it's already expanding around the world -- including the U.S. I bet within a few years it will be hard not to find a place that does not zorb. Zorb Rotorua: tel. 64-7-357 5100 (toll-free within New Zealand: 0800-227-474); e-mail: rotorua@zorb.com.

Auckand to Melbourne on Qantas

After flying back to Auckland and spending the night at John Sax's house (I wrote about that great place last week), I hopped on Qantas' 6:50 a.m. flight to Melbourne. Qantas was operating a 747-400 series airplane -- one of my favorites. By the looks of the gate area I thought there wouldn't be an empty seat on the plane, but I was wrong -- that's how big it is. In fact, business class was almost completely empty (I scored an upgrade). The 1,640-mile flight over the Tasman Sea took only 3 1/2 hours, and seemed too short. That's because the Qantas flight attendants are so friendly, and I had a slew of movies to choose from on my individual entertainment system. Breakfast wasn't fantastic, only because they served dishes I'm not a big fan of: French toast topped with salmon, and a mushroom omelette. Hey, at least they offered food. I don't know what it is about flying to Australia, but I always get so excited. Touchdown was smooth, and Qantas (an acronym for Queensland and Northern Territories Aerial Services) lived up to its perfect safety record. Qantas; tel. 1-800-369-6863 (1-800-DOWNUNDER).

Video

In case you missed last week's 2-minute Johnny Jet Video of Treetops Lodge and the adventure activities we partook in this week, here it is again. With high-speed the video takes about 1 minute to load; with dial-up, please allow up to 3 weeks.

Next Week

Next week we hang out in Melbourne, Australia!

Happy Travels,

Johnny Jet

Please tell us what you think of this week's newsletter!

Web Resources

• Australia.com
• Blue Baths
• Clearwater Charters
• Frommer's Rotorua
• Frommer's New Zealand
• Helipro
• Kiwi Encounter
• Manuka Honey
• Pak N' Save
• Qantas
• Rotorua
• Rotorua Attractions
• Rotorua Government Gardens
• Rotorua's Maori Culture
• Rotorua Map
• Rotorua Weather
• Skyline Skyrides
• Zorb
• Zorb Rotorua

John E. DiScala (aka Johnny Jet), is the founder of www.johnnyjet.com, the ultimate travel website and weekly newsletter. He logs over 150,000 miles a year, has been featured in over 800 articles (including Frommers.com, USA Today, Time, Fortune, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post), and has appeared on ABC, CBS, CNBC, MSNBC, NBC, FOX News Channel, and PBS. Sign up for Johnny Jet's Travel News, Tips and Stories at www.johnnyjet.com.

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