Lake Tarawera Lodge Rotorua

... offers.

But our first day was spent at a leisurely pace as we strolled besides the lake, had a picnic and braved the smell to check out Sulphur Bay. The picnic was pretty yummy until seagulls got the better of us...one cheeky bugger even nipped Leah's finger as she tucked into a bread roll! We decided to walk and eat after that!

As we arrived at Sulphur Bay, Rotorua's nickname becoming increasingly justified, the landscape morphed into orange ...

... Arrived in Rotorua proper around 4:30, then headed off to Maori hangi ceremony that night at 6. Pricy, but loads of fun. Our bus driver Florence was a total hoot, and the dinner itself was full of traditional Maori singing, dancing, the welcoming ceremony, a cultural village, and of course the hangi meal.

... 3 days on the trot, we went and saw the All Blacks playing the Wallabies which was fantastic! Yes, we are the most jammy people on earth to get those tickets but we're not apologising!!
Kirsty and Stu waved us off a few days ago (I miss the electric blanket already) and pointed us in the direction of Ohkune, where Lou, another old (not that old) mate of Joss's, was awaiting to supply us with yet another hangover. As well as eating and drinking & laughing ...

... is an oven dug into the ground where they heat up large rocks put the food in, and cover the hole back up with the dirt used to make the hole and then it cooks for several hours on the hot rocks. The one they had at the cultural night was a more modern version of this idea, in order to serve many people every night, but it stilll used the hot rocks to cook the food. It was pork, lamb, sweet potato and pumpkin ...

on the 25th june we left lake taupo and headed towards napier which is an art deco city. We just had a look around and spent the night at a doc at lake tutira. which was a very nice place.
26th june we drove to gisborne we did not do a lot here as the weather was starting to get bad.
27th we stopped on our way to rotorua at awakeri hot springs caravan park which has a heated ...

... down the river to a ferocious chant. The concert that followed afterwards was as spine chilling but informative of Maori culture and how they have adapted. We even learned a Haka which Fran can do quite impressively (bulging eyes and wagging tongue essential!). The walk through the grounds afterwards was a nice finish although we and 5 others got lost and gate crashed the Rainbow Springs tour (it cost an extra $17) before being rumbled! It was a great night and another of ...

... all levels of rider, from beginners like ourselves through to experts looking for high-octane action. The trails weave their way through lush native ferns beneath soaring forest canopies of Redwood, Radiata, Douglas Fir, Eucalyptus and Larch. We hired some excellent bikes from Rotorua town and headed up the trails. We did the "Dipper", 2.8km (grade 2) which is the shape of ...

... enjoyed washing his feet in a hot pool direct from the earths core, first hot wash they had had for months. Only one point of note, Mac was not impressed that Mable had them staying in an active volcanic area, funny how she forgot to mention this. Oh and yes, it does smell like rotten eggs most of the time. Mac x Big thanx to Barry from www.adventurephotography@xtra.co.nz for the pics he sent us..... cheers mate AND all at riverrats www.riverrats.co.nz

... Now before i go on I want to point out that it was good and the food was god to but i will let you decide if it can lure you to new zealand solely to see it...... Jumping on your bus for the tour it magically trasforms in to a canoe and we all start paddling. after chossing our chief ( thankfully not me) which the caravan man said that his son in law desperatly wanted to be (this man was 26) a few mauri ...

... us onto little trains, wheeled us five minutes into the park and we watched the geysers go off at night whilst we supped hot chocolates and sat on the rock steps heated up by the geothermal activity beneath. Truly an awe inspiring sight and being a reptile, for me the temperate was just right. That brought to an end our time in Rotorua and our trip around the islands. Back to Auckland now to spend our last few days with everyone before heading on to another new country.