After a good breakfast we set off Eastward through the Karanangahake Gorge. The scenery again was spectacular with pines and tropical ferns. We came to Waihi were we stopped to view an old open cast gold mine. This was no longer working but the whole in the ground was enormous. The largest open cast mine in Australasia. We continued on to Katikati where we stopped for coffee in a bakery. The building and service were ramshackle though the coffee ok. We bought lunch from here. We drove on to Tauranga, this was a busy port where cruise ships berthed. The town was very busy. We continued down the coast a little to find a beach where we sat and had lunch. Coincidentally later we realised this was close to where Gail lived. If only we had known. After lunch we drove onto Rotorua.

From close to the town we could see plumes of smoke emanating from the ground. Even closer we could smell the sulphur. We signed into the hotel then went into a local park where we saw bubbling mud springs, felt hot rocks and could see the sulphurous hot gases rising into the air. It was an interesting experience and once you had got used to the smell was fascinating. We then started looking for somewhere to eat. We found Eat Street, a pedestrian walk way, full of restaurants. We settled on an Indian and had an excellent meal. All of saying it was one of the best we had had. The naan bread was delicious.
Back to the hotel with sulphur still in our nostrils.