We had a hard time deciding how to go to Auckland...via Tauranga and cormandel peninsula or to Raglan and hug west coast...we chose the latter. It was a great trip. Got to Raglan and took a walk along river. We then drove to see the long, beautiful but black ocean beach....back into town to find a coffee spot overlooking the large harbour! Very nice spot only an hour from Hamilton. We then took the Wilderness drive north. It was very scenic...again mountains and ...

Well got up today, a bit foggy, but looks like it will be nice. We drove to Lake Rotorua ..yes we are in hamilton not Rotorura...the lake is two blocks from the city but you would never know it...you cannot see the city at all..great parks and forests as well as houses surround the lake...the walk was about 2 hours...we met police along the way who were searching for a man with altimeters who went missing...we watched and smelled for evidence the rest of the walk...

Got up and had another lovely swim before heading out...then Fred and I walked down the New Plymouth ocean pathway. Sea was much calmer than yesterday but still very rough. Amazing the huge pieces of driftwood lying on the banks...btw the banks were built with huge boulders, then the sidewalk, then another row of boulders, then a concrete wall...no erosion is going to happen here! But must have been expensive as path goes for miles! The drive was pleasant...very ...

What a night! Never stay in a small town on the Main Street....river view or not! With a backpackers hostel next door. All night long there was yelling, thumping, laughing, whistling and yes 5 gun shots followed by 4 police cars! Needless to say a bad nights sleep! But morning changes all! Got up and went for an hours walk along river...to one bridge, across it and along the river the other side to the next bridge, crossed it and home. It was sunny and hot! Kayak...

Well we got up, had breakfast...full buffet in the formal dining room...swish! Then we headed straight out as we were worried about the cyclone. When I first looked out window this morning the sky was red but no clouds covered mountain. By the time we left it was raining and the clouds had covered the beautiful mountain. The trip was good...spots of rain and wind now and then but nothing too bad! The road was so windy...up, down and around...and start all over ag...