The morning started crisp and cold up in the mountains at Whakapapa Village, we had to put the gas burners on to warm us up as the air was decidedly frosty - just so our family and friends in the UK know that we are feeling your pain! (Lol as if...J) We decided to forgo another walk out into Tongagiro NP and headed straight out to Stratford, Midhurst and Mt Taranaki. Just as well we allowed lots of time for the drive, the road was mostly tarmac but also had pl...

From Rotorua we travelled on towards Waitomo, stopping overnight in a very nice motor home park with an owner who could give Norman Bates a run for his money. From Otorohanga we visited the famous glow worm caves, as well as the Ruakuri and Aranui caves. Pleased to say we had Maori guides at each location. It's good to see that lands - especially profitable ones - have been / are being returned to their rightful owners, the Maoris (albeit with some compromise...

Beautiful driving today, we started in Rotorua and visited Whakarewarewa - a living and working Maori village, got taken around the hot pools and spots in their village, basically they're living on top of a volatile thermal hot spring and the crust is very thin so the ground is very hot and hot in all spots.Where the steam breaks through there are constructed wooden boxes where food is cooked by the steam. We ate a hangi meal in the village which was delicious ...

Easy drive to Heathrow, thankyou M25 for behaving. BA flight to Los Angeles was smooth and comfortable. Bizarre though tohave left the UK in daytime then fly trough a very short night followed by a very short day to land in LA in the early evening. We are now sitting in LA airport having a beer and watching the world go by before checking in for New Zealand. Have been awake for nearly 24hours and are planning to sleep on the next flight. Loving the warmth......

Rushing around trying to get everything set....people to see, shopping to do, packing to organise....not long now