Kia Ora! Thats a Maori hello to all you uninitiated folk! Left Auckland and headed to Lake Taupo. On the way stopping at the Hot Water Beach where we tried to find... da da da... hot water!! But we didnt manage! Fortunately a small child offered to share her hot water pool with us, so we jumped on in with her family and all! We then took a gruelling walk to Cathedral Cove where we took a couple of lovely photies - and then had to walk up around 150 steps (maybe 143). Not that we were counting! Headed to Whitianga next and did some bone carving. Louise sulked because her bone was yellow, while Lucys was bright white! Apparently you have to give it to someone, rather than keep it for yourselves, so if anybody receives a bone necklace count yourself lucky - we made that!! Next morning headed to Waitomo where we went black water rafting through glow worm caves. Brilliant fun, but quite cold! Jumped off a waterfall backwards, went down a water slide, saw some glow worms and splashed about quite alot in the dark! It also took us about half an hour to get our wet suits on - best work out you can get without a gym! We keep hearing horror stories about giant eels in the caves - but luckily we didnt see any! Or we would have screamed... like girls! Went to Rotorua which you could smell before you saw! Lots of volcanic activity in the area, so not surprising really! Went spa dipping, mud bathing and a fantastic Maori night - where we watched some eerie ceremonies, as well as some dancing and singing. They also did the Haka - which was very exciting! It was followed by a Hangi - a traditional Maori feast, where they cook your food in the ground. Headed to Lake Taupo next. On the way we stopped to go round the Wai-O-Tapu Geothermal Wonderland. It really stank. But we saw bubbling mud, a geyser erupting, and lots of very funny coloured pools. Before reaching Taupo we also did some giant swinging and visited Huka Falls. Went out on the town that night, and accidentally got 'locked in' in a pub for the whole night!! So we only got an hours sleep! Needless to say we werent very aware of our surroundings the next day! Lucky we spent most of the day travelling to Wellington then! Today we visited Te Papa - New Zealands National Museum - which was brilliant, and made even better by the fact it was free! Also managed to catch the Lord of the Rings exhibition! Which we were very excited about, being the sad losers that we are! Nearly bought a couple of swords - but thought it might be tricky to get them through customs!! Heading to the South Island tomorrow morning! See you there!!