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| Rainbow
Springs Nature
Park |
| By
Audrey Goh |
The Rainbow
Springs Nature Park is where I experienced my first farm life and attended
my first sheep show. Like the Agrodome, it is also a famous farm in Rotorua,
which presents sheep shows. However, Rainbow Springs is also a beautiful
place where you can experience nature the New Zealand way.
Located amidst
beautiful native bush with meandering crystal clear fresh water streams
and deep fern fringed pools, Rainbow Springs is a showcase of New Zealand
plants and wildlife. This was one of New Zealand's pioneer tourist venues.
Then known as the Fairy Springs, it saw its first visitor in 1898.
Today, you
will see thousands of Rainbow, Brown and Brook trout gliding through clear
spring-fed streams. The beautiful Native Bush Walk is also accessible
to all ages and abilities, revealing the beauty of New Zealand's native
bush and unique bird life, which include herons, wood pigeons, stilts,
weka, ducks, kea, kaka, tui, and more. They are close enough to touch
yet are set in a natural, undisturbed environment. You will also get to
see the national icon of New Zealand, the flightless Kiwi in the award-winning
nocturnal Kiwihouse. Another must see would be the extraordinary
tuatara, New Zealand's unique living dinosaur from 225 million years in
the past. New Zealand's reputation in the world of forestry and agriculture
is second to none and this is exceptionally shown at the Rainbow Park.
The Rainbow
Farm Show, on the other hand, offers daily shows at 10.30 a.m., 11.45
a.m., 1 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. Try your hand at milking a cow, bottle-feeding
baby lambs, riding a bull (one of the biggest bull I’ve ever seen), churning
out cream and butter (which is not as easy as it looks), and much more.
In addition, visit the Rainbow Farm Museum and see New Zealand
farming the way it was done in past generations. And before you go, pick
up a memento of your visit at the Rainbow Farm Shop with its extensive
range of beautiful hand-made crafts, artwork and produce, woolen products
and sheepskins.
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