So we had a lovely last few days with Chrissie (sorry for any spelling mistakes this computer is gay and the 'e' and the 't' buttons in particular don't seem to want to cooperate). We went winetasting (wit woo), went to see the powerboats at Mareatai beach and had a fab bbq on our last day. You guys have all been absolutely brilliant I can't thank you all enough. Will send you a postcard to keep you updated but I'm missing you all already. Thank you, love you.

So anyway on the Monday morning bright and early we caught a bus from Auckland into Rotorua. Took 3.5 hours and only cost $9 each (what a bargain nakedbus.com). After I had us walking in few circles (i had the map upside down) we decided to check into the closest backpackers we could find sp ended up at a place called Cactus Jacks. Unfortunately we didn't get any pictures as only stayed one night but this place had to be seen to be believed. It was a themed backpackers (mmmm). It was all arranged aound this wild west couryard with the rooms as like the stables o jailhouse or somathing. Bet it was fab when it was first done but that was probably about 20 years ago looking at the state of it, I just tried to not think of all the bugs and just got on with it and it turned out to be ok for one night.

So anyway in Rotorua we thought we better check out some geothermal activity and hot pools so booked to go to Hells Gate. This is a place where there were loads of bubbling hot pools and mud pools and geysers. We had the best bus driver ever he was a legend starting singing Maori songs and crap to us we both we're in fits and just had to look at the ground to stop ourselves collapsing with the giggles, he even made us do the traditional Maori goodbye of rubbing noses with each other! classic moment. When we got there it was amazing to walk around the park looking at all the different things, it just seemed so odd that it was all natural looked like something off a movie set. There was steam rising from the ground and even the path was hot to touch. Will put the photos up as soon as possible so you can see what I mean and explain a little more. But the whole place absolutely stunk of sulphur, and I don't mean just a little bit wiffy like in the city it actually made you want to throw up was horrendous ha ha. After our little walk we headed off to the mud baths. This was absolutley hilarious. We climbed into a big bath (just the 2 of us though) which was filled with entirely natural hot mud collected from the pools we had just walked round, and we covered ourselves in the stuff (I was hoping it might get rid of some of my spots I seem to be cursed with at the moment!). It was such a weird sensation rubbing it all over yourselves it was in my nails and everything aarragghh! We washed off the mud in a cold shower then bathed in the hot sulphurous spa for a while. We were absolutely knackered after so had a curry (mine was a bit crap though too sweet and creamy) and went to bed ready for our early start.