Day 92 - Coromandel Had a good day on the Driving Greek Scenic Railway and Pottery which sounds as though we have completely lost it! An artist/sculptor from NZ bought 60 acres of land (up a mountain) and started to take the clay from the mountainside for his pottery. It was very hard to bring it down so he decided to build a narrow-gauge railway line with one carriage, that over the next 36 years grew and he built bridges and tunnels to enhance the journey, got...

Day 85/86 Tauanga - Waihi Beach Well probably the last day of cycling, because it was Saturday we assumed that there was not going to be too much traffic on the roads. Travelled about 47k on the SH2 and then travelled on a back (loop road) to Waihi Beach, rolling hills but we have booked a Top 10 Holiday Park cabin, pretty basic but the beds comfortable been established since 1960 like a Pontins site. Still in the Bay of Plenty with views of the ocean and forest...

Day 81 Taupo - Rotorua On advice took the back road avoiding the State Highway 5. Travelled on Broadlands Road which went on for miles, the mist was down very low but at least most of the logging lorries were using the main road. This is a volcanic region with many underground thermals, it looks like the hills are smouldering but it's the steam excaping. Took a picture of the Lake but the steam might have merged with the morning mist! Stopped for coffee in Repor...

Day 76 - Tamarunui Stayed here today to send our blog, arrange accomodation for tomorrow and to go to the Bank. Had a look around the town, children still off school so quite busy. Far more Maori live in the North Island, it's warmer and they appear to prefer it. Generally, they appear less affluent than their white counterparts, but I must say they are friendly towards us if we make the first approach to say Hello. Day 77 Taumarunui - Turangi Great weather th...

Day 72 Wellington Yes Ron and we only have your word that you are working in Barnoldswick, you could be sitting in your spare room making this all up!!!!! Everything accommodation wise completely booked for Easter but we managed to re-book with the Cambridge Hotel (over 100 years old) for a couple of single rooms, at least Keith can enjoy a good night's kip without my snoring!!! Spent hours in the Wellington Museum (Te Papa), very interesting not our usual thin...