Monday 22 April

After Lunch, be ready to head off for an afternoon excursion.

We will firstly visit the Garden of the Sleeping Giant.

The Garden, which contains a vast collection of 30 to 40 varieties of magnificent Asian orchids and Cattleya hybrids, was once the private collection of the late American actor Raymond Burr.

Now open to the public, the garden is a wonderful spot to spend some time just wandering along the canopy-covered boardwalk, through gorgeously landscaped lawns, across calm lily ponds complete with trickling fountains and croaking frogs and finally into the heart of a dense rainforest.

The highlight of the tour has to be the orchids themselves. Carefully tended and well displayed, these fragile flowers are breath-takingly beautiful.

Then if you are up for a bit of fun, we head to the Mud Pools.

Hot spring water combines with volcanic ash to form a mud bath pool. Mud baths have existed for thousands of years and found in spas around the world including Fiji. The mud bath treatment is used as a way to relieve arthritis. 

To take full advantage of the therapeutic value of the mud pools you first coat yourself in mud then stand in the sun until it drys. Wash off in the first natural hot spring pool then walk over to the next clear water pool for another cleansing. Pool temperatures are warm to hot.

What to bring:

• Walking shoes
• Thongs or other 'wet shoes'
• Towel
• Swimmers (note - the mud may strip colour from swimwear)
• Hat
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Camera
• Small amounts of cash for optional purchases