Travelsmartplanet

In the Te Parapara Garden in Hamilton Gardens, NZ, traditional (to Maori) rare kuumara (sweet potato) varieties are planted on puke (mounds) in the summer and then harvested. 

Thermal pits are common in the central area of the North Island of New Zealand. The Maori used them for cooking and bathing. How clever. 

Hot thermal mineral baths and hot thermal mineral geysers are found all over Maori land in Whakarewarewa, New Zealand. This one shoots up on a regular schedule every day.

The Yellowstone National Park in the US is not the only place on earth that has very faithful geysers. This one, called Korotiotio, is found on Maori land in Whakarewarewa, New Zealand.

At the waterfront in Sault Ste. Marie, there’s a park named after Canada’s first female astronaut. You find out that she is a neurologist, biologist, pilot, the first female Canadian astronaut and crew member of the space shuttle Discovery.

Someone in Sault Ste. Marie has a great sense of humor. We loved the statue of the adult bear with a camcorder on his shoulder videotaping two cubs. It’s down by the waterfront in Dr. Roberta Bondar park.

Sign in Dr. Roberta Bondar Park, Sault Ste. Marie “Caution, Scare Gun used for Goose Control”.

If you want to get away from the crowds, here are 2 picnic tables for you in Agawa Canyon Park. Take the train ride up from Sault Ste. Marie and enjoy the peace and quiet.

Here we are eager beavers at Black Beaver Falls. We didn’t see beavers or otters, mallard ducks or merganser ducks which all like to hang out here. But we did see roaring falls.

After 3 relaxing hours, when you get off the Agawa Canyon train at mile 114, you have opportunities for walks on 3 trails, The Talus Trail, the River Trail or this one: The Lookout Trail goes up 320 wooden steps to panoramic views of the canyon.