From our morning of wildnerness Vick and I drove into Napier where we had the most incredible panini's at this little coffee shop. It decided it was going to rain cats and dogs so it was perfect timing! Unfortunately Vikki's toe still looked a bit gammy and hadn't fully recovered from when she had been taking antibiotics for it, so she headed to the docs to get it sorted. In the end they booked her in for a toe avulsion so they could take her big toe nail off and then once it had healed it should hopefully stop getting infected again! Sorry if you are eating at the moment...

Seeming as Vick had to go in the next day we stayed closeby at Lake Tutira. By the time we got there it was very dark and very wet. The campsite was 1km down a little road that was very VERY close to the lake...once we had settled we actually moved back up to the picnic site because we knew if the rain went much longer we might be swimming with the trout in the morning.

A morning walk woke us up ready to drive back into town for Vick to get her toe prodded and poked. She hobbled out of the hospital with a very numb toe after lunchtime and we drove onto Lake Taupo which is in the centre of North Island. Lake Taupo was formed by a massive volcano and so the area is very active. This means the area is very eggy. The smell of sulphur dioxide smells like all ranges of eggs. From scrambled eggs, to egg sandwiches, and then you get the really pongy parts that smell like rotten eggs (we drove quickly through those). The lake is also the biggest in NZ and it's hard to see the shore on the other side (especially as we arrived when, yup, you guessed it, it was raining). Despite that we still had an icecream because yey it is getting hotter!

That evening we camped at Huka Falls, a lovely campsite (not a wonderful loo) just outside of the town. Going for a wander we passed Huka Lodge, a very grand looking place. Even though it said no trespassing we were too nosey and crept through the big five bar gates and tried to peer through the vegetation. That didn't get us very far and we still don't actually know what it is. So if any of you do know then give us a shout! Our wander also got us to the impressive Huka Falls. Wow. Very impressive waterfalls! The waterfall had carved its way through the rock and pounded down into an opening whereby every minute the waterfall produces enough water to fill five olympic swimming pools! It's also one of NZ biggest electricity providers!

We found that dam the next day. We thought it was a 2 hour return walk to the dam and back. Turns out it was one way, so we had very tired leggles after that trip! Especially as I had tried to wear my melted trainers that I had left on the wood burning stove too long in Haast, and Vick and her toe and now her left foot was also hurting too! We looked a right pair coming back. Hobbling along, me in bare feet (my melted trainers really are capput) and Vick limping off both feet - we did get some looks!

That afternoon we drove onto Rotoroa (the home of the egg smelling holes in the ground). And this is where I am now sitting. On the 27th September in the town library. Last night was when I tried to use the slow computer with the singing praying man on his bongo drum...I perked up after that as Vick had found a night market WITH FREE FOOD when she was parking Hugo. The smells were too tempting and Vick and I ended up having thai food in the market with all the locals. You've gotta love a market!

This afternoon we are heading to a beach (if we can find it) where you can bury your feet and they warm up from the two fissures! You have to bring in cold water so you don't burn your tootsies off! We might check out some mud pools, and take advantage of the showers (they are needed now) at some hot springs out of town. Tomorrow we are heading to hobbiton (Vick is getting very excited again) and then Northward from there. But until next time which is most likely going to be Auckland