Rotorua is definitely a place best seen by car.

We made an early start to drive the 27km to Wai-o-tapu Thermal Wonderland to see its star attraction - the Lady Knox Geyser. Every day at 10:15, the park ranger adds detergent to the steaming hole in the ground to trigger a column of water up to 20m. We sat on the front row and got more than a little wet.

We then walked round the rest of the attraction: the artists palette - a colourful plateau caused by minerals in the geothermal pools; the champagne pool - a large, steaming pool with bubbles aplenty; and the devil's bathtub - a pool of unnaturally bright green coloured, yet natural water, caused by the mineral content of the water.

We had bought a combo ticket, so drove another 7km to Waimangu volcano valley, where we saw the aftermath of the 1886 volcanic eruption of Mt Tarawera - the largest volcanic eruption of the last 5,000 years. Probably too much walking in one day, but we ended in relaxing style with a boat trip around the lake that was massively increased in size by the eruption.

We arrived back in town just in time for the Early Bird Special at the 5* Princes Gate Hotel - around which Rotorua was originally built. The food was amazing - everything cooked to perfection and only £13 for 3 courses!

Unfortunately it started to rain torrentially (the edge of yet another nearby cyclone) during the meal and we had to relocate from the outdoor pool area. The rain also meant that we arrived at the weekly night market as everyone was packing up their stalls early, as no-one was out shopping in that weather!