Stage 2 - Middle Earth!!!!

Hello all.

A bit of a delay since our last post, but we have been busy tying up odds and ends and saying farewell to our Oz chums before departing for New Zealand.

So here we are safe and sound in a decidedly chilly Wellington after a week traveling around the North Island. We spent 2 nights at a rather plush hotel in Auckland on our arrival, giving us time to settle in and see the city before picking our Van up on Wednesday. (a rather beautiful automatic! 3liter Toyota high ace with a ginger girl on the side!!) Nice but not quite a VW!!

Our first port of call was the bay of islands, Paiha and Waitangi for the exact location, north of Auckland. Famed for the signing of the Maori treaty of independence in 1840. Stunning bays, and good weather which really helps!

From here we headed down to Rotarua AKA fartopolis, thanks to the thermal activity and constant smell of Sulphur! Our reason for traveling there was to spend a little time soaking in the many mineral pools there. Which we did - quite a lot . Highlight though was Skyline adventure, where you go up a mountain in a Gondola then hoon it down in plastic go-karts!! Too much fun!!! Put a smile on our face for the rest of the day. Also Jude got chance to have her finger suckled by a BABY LAMB at an agricultural show that just happened to be on!! VIVIR EL SUENO!!!

After two days of self wrinkling we headed down to the town of Taupo, and lake Taupo. Again thermal pool-tastic and stunning views across the lake to Tongariro national park and the 3 towering snow capped volcanic peaks, Mt Tongariro, Mt Nguaruhoe, and Mt Ruapehu (one of which is Mount Doom) check the pictures, quite impressive!

The next morning we headed to one of the ski fields in the Tongariro national park, Whakapapa on Mt Ruapehu, and got a tasta of the NZ piste vibe, before heading down to Wanganui , which was last night. And there we are, up to date.

We sail for the South Island tomorrow morning.

Hope you are all in fine fettle.

Miss you.

Xxj&jxx