On Thursday, March 3, 2005, our APT group visited a Rotorua area attraction called Rainbow Springs.  Rainbow Springs is a nature reserve where visitors can enjoy a blend of native bush, ferns, trees, plants and animals that can be found throughout New Zealand.

      Our visit to Rainbow Springs was more brief than it should have been to appreciate it fully.  As a group we were led quickly through the park by a guide.  He did a great job, but I found it impossible to take photographs, see the objects the guide talked about after everyone standing in front moved and also listen to the guide's introductions.

      Rainbow Springs is particularly proud of its trout in Rainbow Pool.  The trout in Rainbow Pool (right) are wild trout and come and go at will. Every winter (May to September) trout swim upstream from Lake Rotorua to spawn. Afterward, many of the fish stay rather than return to Lake Rotorua.

      The Tui (shown left) feeds on nectar with a long, brush-like tongue. The tui is appreciated for its variety of songs.  The bird shown at left felt comfortable to come right up to people probably in hopes to be fed.

      The Kea (shown right) is also known as the Alpine Parrot.  Its population is most abundant in the forests on the western side of the New Zealand Alps.  While the Kea is popular with the tourists, farmers find that they can be a nuisance.

      Emus (shown left) are native to Australia and are the world's second-largest living members of the ratite family of flightless birds.  Others include the ostrich from Africa, the rhea from South America, the cassowary from Australia and New Guinea and the kiwi from New Zealand.

      Rainbow Springs has an underwater viewing area (right) to view the Rainbow Pool.

The Northland Green Gecko (Naultinus grayii) (shown left) live about 15 to 20 years.  Geckos have transparent eyelids which are permanently shut.  They use their tongues to clean their eyelids.

      Adult Kiwi are at home in the Kiwi House at Rainbow Springs.  Kiwi are nocturnal and many New Zealanders have never seen one.  The Kiwi House reverses day and night attributes so that visitors can enjoy catching a glimpse of them during the day.  The image at left is actually a stuffed specimen located in a display case just outside of the Kiwi House.  Photographs of the actual birds are not allowed.

     The turtle shown at right was an irresistible photo opportunity in the Rainbow Springs gift shop.