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 day driving about 1.5 hours to make a 40 minute walk to Cathedral Cove, and the heavens opened. The cove is as it suggets a cove but with a major stone arch where the sea has worn a hole in this particular rock face. Spent ten seconds huddling under the cove roof and walked back and had pleasant snack lunch at Hatei. (R&D later stayed at a B&B here). We were surprised by the extent of cover on the mountain sides in Coromandel of pampas grass with major forests of wood. pampas grass and palm trees. It is a very major lumber area, as many areas of NZ North Island seem to be.

Peg got upset as my camera ran out of memory. We bought a new card but I don't seem to be able to get this PC to download, so you will have to wait for photo's.

Our new hotel is the only one situated within in the Tongariro national park and is called the Chateau Bayview Tongariro. We have the top floor suite (the Peggy Maclaren suite - her photo was not quite the same as this Peggy!) with views of the mountains from two sides of the room. Not only this but a full length mirror on the wash basin side of the bathroom, you could sit in the bath and have totally panoramic view of the Volcanos and Mountains! I guess we will spend the next day or two walking on the hillsides. (the location is just south of Taupo).

I am writing this in a tavern a hundred yards away from the hotel with a pint but no help so as I said the photos will have to wait.

Bryan