Hey all!!

We just reached Taupo this afternoon after spending a couple of days in Rotorua. Rotorua has got to be the smelliest place on earth - but unbeleivably beautiful! The sulphuric gases from the volcanic earth and lakes is vile! It smells of rotten eggs! But we put up with the smell and saw some of the most stunning landscapes ever!

There was steam coming out of the roads, rivers, lakes, mountains and mud pools! Its like we're on a different planet.

We went up Mt Ngongotaha on a gondola lift then when we got up we go-carted down the side of the mountain! La and i wanted the intermediate route and ed "accidently" took us on advanced! Thanks Ed! We went to a spa where the pools were full of water straight from the earth! it was 42c!! Ouch! La La hit a record on her red-o-meter! I was fairly close behind and apparently as the heat got to me i looked rather stoned!! It was wicked though!

On Saturday we went to the Waimangu Volcanic Valley. We went for a 2 1/2 trek around the valley and saw bubbling lakes one of which reached 98c! Wouldn't want to fall in that, but ed couldn't resist sticking his hand in a sulphur lake which must have been around 50c! Plonker!! We hiked up Mt Hazard which nearly killed us but the veiws were worth it! We looked out ovet Mt Tarawera which was the Volcano that erupted in 1886 and distroyed the whole area and 8 Mauri Villages, covering the land in up to 4 metres of mud and ash!

Today we saw a Village ( The Buried Village) that was hit badly by the eruption and could never be returned to. It was excavated in the 1930's and learned about the amazing stories of those who survived! It was very sobering!

We then drove to Taupo and have spent the evening relaxing in a hot spa at our hostel! I know!! We hear a couple of night to explore!

ps MooMoo( this is rachel by the way and it seems wrong calling you moo moo but i've done it anyway and you couldn't stop me!) La La asked me to let yopu know her email is [email protected] Hope the move goes well for you babes! x x