Since yesterday we have stayed here in Tongariro National Park - see web site of Bayview Chateau Tongariro. This morning we drove up the mountain on a very winding road from the hotel (at 1,400 metres above sea level) to the ski lift when Peggy decided she did not feel well, so we drove straight back down. Peg stayed in the room to rest and I went for 2 hour walk to a waterfall towards the volcano. Came back at 2 ish and we had a light lunch and we then both went...

We are now in the National Park. We left Russell after a relaxing time at the Duke of Marlboro hotel. We then drove down to Coromandel which took all of one day. We stopped for lunch just north of Auckland for a bite (Wardsworth?) village very pretty on the river but the Lonely Planet let us down on lunch recommendation!! We spent 2 days at the Puka Park hotel at the edge of the Coromandel which is a resort hotel very relaxing in our own chalet. Spent our free d...