Whistle stop tour...

Well we had a really good day in Rotarua. We spent the morning making the most of the hotel, using the shower and watching the telly and luxuriating in a real bed, then we drove out to the luge. These are karts which shoot down a track really fast and there are three different levels. I went down the scenic route once and that was enough for me but Sam and Will spent the afternoon whizzing down the advanced track. Then they went on the sky swing, this is a huge ball which you sit in and is then launched out over a valley at about 150k in 2 seconds... I watched that one as well (must be getting old). Sam thought it was absolutely brilliant, crazy child.

In the evening we went to a Maori show - it was a right rip off. When we got there there was some maori host who thought he was a comedian and we sat in a huge marque, like being at someone you don't know very wells wedding. Then we elected a chief from the group (don't ask) and went to see where the hangi was being dug up. After this we watched a canoe being paddled in by some maori kids and then sat and watched a maori show. It was all just a bit...tacky...really. The maoris seem so proud of their culture and this just seemed like it was demeaning it a bit (not sure if that's the right word). And no Dad, it's not just me because the other couples on our table felt the same. After the show we went back to the marque and had the hangi and this is where we got our moneys worth as you can imagine, we piled our plated high with delicious lamb, chicken, potatoes and kumara (sweet potato) which had been cooked in the ground and then followed this with chocolate cake and cups of tea. Finally we went for a walk in the dark with torches and saw the glow worms and the 'comedian' told us about how the maoris used the trees for medicine etc... which was quite interesting but I'm not sure he knew what he was talking about!! The upshot - if you are in Rotarua don't pay to see the show it's rubbish just meet some real maoris and talk to them for free, much more enlightening and emotional.

The next morning we drove to Hell's Valley (think it was George Bernard Shaw who christened them this) and saw the bubbling mud pools and sulphur springs which were pretty cool, like walking on the moon with steam coming from the ground and bubbling water shooting up in a barren landscape. Then we drove to Raglan which is an excellent surf spot and a lovely little town. Will got some great surf and we spent a miserable night in the van in the rain parked outside a campsite because the gates were closed and all squashed onto one bed, but the next morning the sun came out and I spent an amazing morning wandering around the Raglan art trail which was on in all the shops and cafes whilst Sam and Will did maths in the van. The art trail was amazing and so much better without Will and Sam who would have been very bored! Then we drove to The Mount and stopped by to see Coralie (Ellie's next door neighbour) we are now parked up on her grass and will stay here for a couple of days until we head up to the Coromandel.

Mum said there are reports of cyclones and flooding in the North Island, it has been a bit wet and stormy but it's all fine now and we haven't been washed out or anything. Sorry it's been so long but have had no power for a few days.