We left Cambridge after a couple of nights and booked into a site about 600 metres from the Waitomo Caves, we drove up to the Caves and bought some tickets for the first tour for the following day. We then headed back up the road to Otorahunga - the Kiwi House and Native Bird Park feed their Kiwi birds at lunchtime.
The kiwis there live in nocturnal enclosures and are pretty amazing birds. They have really long beaks that they use to burrow down into the earth for worms and insects. They are the only bird known to have nostrils at the end of their beaks. They lay eggs that are massive in proportion to their bodies (around 15-25% of their body weight) and for most types of kiwi the male incubates the egg. Although they only lay one egg per season. Once bonded the male and female tend to live their entire lives as a monogamous couple. Although females are known to leave their partners for more desirable males. And they are really fluffy and cute. Unfortunately, their numbers are on the decline.
We also fed the ducks.
Otorahunga is the Kiwiana capital of NZ. The town has lots of quirky tributes to Kiwiana - murals, corrugated iron Kiwi sculptures and a whole gallery and arcade of Kiwiana displays in the Ed Hillary Walkway in the centre of town. There are 14 Kiwiana display modules there and another 10 in shop windows up the high street. They offer a snapshot of New Zealand’s popular culture, icons, heritage and heroes, including Buzzy Bee, pavlova and Aunt Daisy.
Even the town’s public toilets get a look-in; the exterior is sign written with traditional and Kiwi slang names for toilets - wc, loo, bog, wharepaku, powder room, can, throne, lavatory, long drop, privy, etc.
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