Arrived in Waiotapu and visited the aptly named "Thermal Wonderland". It sounds tacky but it is genuinely special. Situated in the heart of a geothermal region running across the North Island, this relatively small area, which we walked around in about 90 minutes, contained many multicoloured craters, fumeroles, hot springs and mud pools. Each took our breath away, literally, as a strong smell of rotten eggs permeated the whole place. We stayed overnight in Waiotapu at a road inn that reminded me of some of the working men's clubs back home, but with some bedrooms bolted on. The standard of the accommodation was, hmmm, lets say "basic". Hilary and Gill were not impressed. Poor old Chris - this was another that he had booked.