After a night sleeping like the dead and a very stiff morning we left the area and drove north back towards Taupo and Rotorua. We'd been keeping in touch with Tom and Rachel knowing that we might again cross paths and sure enough after a very nice brunch in Taupo we heard from them in Rotorua. We drove the 75km north and met them about lunch time. We were also introduced to Greg and Andy some friends of theirs from home. Greg left on the bus back to where he li...

Opening the window in the van and letting in the smell of rotting eggs confirmed that we were in Rotorua. The town is situated at the heart of New Zealand's most dynamic thermal areas. The Maori revered this place for its rich thermal qualities, artesian springs and healing thermal mud and even today the population of Rotorua is 35% Maori. The combination of the thermal resorts and the chance to see traditional Maori villages (mocked up for the tourists anyway)...