We had a schedule this morning as we had to be at the Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland to see the geyser going off. The Lady Knox Geyser goes off every day at 1015 (with a little prompting from a soap-like organic substance) and gushes for about an hour. We missed the 1015 spectacular, but it was still going off when we arrived. What an anti-climax! The whole area was surrounded by loads of seating and there were about 1000 people milling around. So a quick photo and off to see the rest of the place. This was much more impressive, including the Champagne Pool, Artists Palette and Devil's Punchbowl. The drive from here down to Napier took us across the Central Plateau, with Lake Taupo at its centre. The Taupo Volcanic Zone stretches from White Island, through Rotorua and down to Tongariro National Park. Lake Taupo is NZ's largest lake and was formed by one of the greatest eruptions of all time, about 26,500 years ago, which produced an estimated 800 cubic km of ash and pumice. By comparison, the Mt St Helen's one produced only 3!! It devastated the whole North Island and almost all vegetation would have been destroyed, coated with hot, poisonous ash up to 100m deep. Fortunately NZ was uninhabited at the time - today the area affected is home to 200,000 people. Enough with the geography and geology - we carried on to Napier and are in the worst campsite so far - Butlins equivalent!! On the way into town we saw some signs which made me smile - "The Coroner thanks you for driving safely". Also, "Don't be a tosser, put your rubbish in a bin". Dinner tonight - cous cous with tuna and sweetcorn!!!! Sherry xx