We followed the Thermal Explorer Highway from Napier to Taupo, arriving by 10am. Jeremy, Joanne and the children were pleased to see us. The children were really excited about the campervan and spent ages climbing on anything and everything. Jarryd was a bit disappointed as he expected it to be ?much bigger? and have a toilet and a shower, and when he got in there, the first question he asked was ?where is the dishwasher?? After another of Joanne?s tasty lunches ...

Taupo welcomed us with the worst downpours we had seen since being in New Zealand. It poured down for hours so we didn?t really get to explore till the Saturday. We stayed at the Rainbow Lodge which was centrally located and was friendly enough. We rested the first night and Ben had arranged to meet his family in the morning. They picked us up in the car around lunch time and we went back to their home which was lovely. Margaret is Ben?s mothers aunty and live...