In the morning we went for a walk along the river in Okahune, the whole time with great views of Mt Ruapahu in the background. Then we got on our way to Wellington which took most of the day through what is probably the least exciting landscape in NZ. We also hit our first traffic jam getting to the campsite in Wellington. Arrived in time for Ellie and Lilly to put in some work on their journals - we have been so busy they have gotten behind..... I keep having...

Ellie, Lilly and I got up early for our trip to Ruakuri Caves. Lots of formations, more glow worms and they turned the lights off so you could really experience how dark it was. Really starting to miss my old days as a caver. Then we did what is supposed to be one of the best short walks in NZ - great ferns - I need to load one of pictures which shows a tree branch dripping with mosses. Through short sections of cave, over swinging bridges to see the river disa...

Extended our trip to Rotorua for a special chance to go on a canopy tour (thanks Gail and Steve). Lilly was somewhat reluctant to get up at 6:50 -"I don't want to go". Once we were in the amazingly lush virgin forest on her first zip line she quickly changed her mind. Two and a half hours of clambering along swinging bridges, up steps and across many zip lines in the tree tops was an amazing experience. Then we drove over to Waitomo to learn almost everything ...

One of the best run locations ever- around Kurai park at 7 am with a slight misty rain. The whole park is a patchwork of hot pools from which clouds of steam and gas fill the air, I got to run through a maze of pathways through the trees never knowing if there was going to be bubbling mud around the corner or a fog of steam. Then we all went to Te Puia, a Maori crafts center and thermal wonderland. The kids got to walk on stilts ( I never did get an answer to ...

Up early(ish) - it is a vacation - so we can park our monster truck at the popular cathedral cove. Grandma has to stay at the camper as it's quite a trek down. If you want to know what the beach known as the most beautiful in NZ looks like watch the start of Prince Caspian when the kids arrive on the beach and wander through an arch. Tide was in so getting through the arch took careful timing between waves but all the more exciting for the girls who couldn't un...