This is Lake Rotoura, one of the many spectacular scenes we saw on our long trip today. To be honest the journey was nowhere near as bad as I had anticipated. There are only about 4 million people on the North Island, so there is plenty of space and so much to see. It really is awe inspiring. It feels like you have plenty of time and space to really breath. So different to Sydney. The houses are low level and sprawl around. The vegetation is lush and green. I'v...

It's beautiful here. Wide open country, rolling hills,mountains, volcanos, Guysers, bubbling mud, waterfalls. I think i'm in love. So many wonderful experiences. So much to see and do. I'm writing this overlooking Lake Rotorua. Amazing. Off early tomorrow, to Glow Worm Caves, Waitomo. Then to Auckland. Happy days. Off into Rotorua now for a curry! Check out the new photo albums. xxxxx The Maori village was fabulous. James was our chief. He did a great job. Be...

Melbourne airport was lovely, however the transfer from our hotel in Melbourne to the airport was hideous. We were thrown in like cattle, in a barely roadworthy vehicle and driven by a maniac. Melbourne was the most spacious airport I have seen so far. Clean and airy. It even had an automatic piano. Very elegant. A 3 hour flight, with a two hour forward clock change. It's all getting a little confusing..... Still it was lovely and sunny when we landed and we...

Early pick-up. 7:40am for our half day City Tour. Stopped at "kiss and fly" for a warm almond danish and a flat white to start the day. It was sunny and warm in the city but there was much traffic due to the funeral being held in St. Patricks for the Aussie Footballer Jim Styles in the middle of town. The place was cordoned off and there was a huge turnout for the city's hero. Saw the conservatory in the park, Cooks Cottage, which was moved to this country bri...

Melbourne is beautiful. It was a little cloudy when we arrived, but by the time we met with Lyn and the girls it was beautifully warm and sunny. We had a nose around in some of the arcades, checked out the boutiques and pressed our noses up against the numerous high end chocolate shops. Some of the Easter eggs were in excess of $80, we did not purchase. Just breathed in deeply! Lunch at Hungry Jacks, that's Burger King to us! Then a ride on the tram to the park...