Last few days in New Zealand

Sunday, January 22
Lake Taupo to Rotorua

We left the hotel at about 8:30 and started driving north toward Rotorua. Our first stop was Huka Falls. We had a chance encounter with Donna and Ross, a couple from our bike tour, who were on the north Island visiting their friends Gail and Norm. Gail and Norm live in Wellington so Donna and Ross had taken the ferry from the south island on Wednesday at the end of our bike tour. So here we are in the middle of the north island and we happen to be in the same place at the same time. Gail recommended that we take a tour of a Mauri thermal village that was near Rotorua and that was where they were heading.

After lunch we met Donna, Ross, Gail and Norm at the Whakarewarewa Thermal Village. The tour was very interesting including the history of the Mauri culture and life in the thermal village where there are still people living in the village using the thermal pools for cooking and bathing. There were also geisers adjacent to the village.

We were not far from our hotel so we went directly there so Hugh could get some rest. After a grocery store stop we went to a restaurant within walking distance of our hotel. Tomorrow we head to the east coast for a look at the beach area.

Monday, January 23

Rotorua to Tauranga

Cindy wanted to purchase some wool from a local shop that didn't open until 9:30 so we got a later start. The shop in Rotorua did not have the wool she wanted so we were on the road by 10:00. We drove northeast with a stop in Te Puke to look in the shops and have lunch.

We arrived in Mount Maunganui early afternoon. Mount Maunganui is a beach town with a mountain at the end of the point. The beach was very nice and there were a lot of people. The weather is pretty warm today but I wouldn't call it hot. There are several walks around and over the mount and we chose the 45 minute walk around the base of the mount along the water. The water here is crystal clear and very blue. The cargo ship that ran aground several months ago has caused some beach areas to be closed because of oil.

We arrived at our hotel in Tauranga at about 3:30. Cindy and I drove into town to check out another wool store and this time Cindy was successful in finding what she wanted. After relaxing in our room we went out to dinner at a Fish Market just down the wharf from our hotel. Great fish and chip. Tomorrow is our last day on the road in NZ.

Tuesday, January 24

Tauranga to Aukland

Breakfast in our room and we were on the road at about 8:30. We took mostly back roads so that we can enjoy the beautiful landscape and get to drive along the Bay of Thames. We stopped in a couple of small towns along the way, one for a quick lunch at the community park.

We arrived at out hotel in Aukland at about 2:00. With the four bike cases and our luggage it will not all fit in the car for the trip out to the airport tomorrow morning. Hugh and I drive his two bike cases and one suitcase of theirs out to the car rental place for them to hold until tomorrow morning when the car is returned. Our flight is out first so Hugh and Sandy will drive us to the airport in the the morning before returning the car and picking up their bike cases and luggage.

Hugh and Sandy are flying to the states and Cindy and I are flying to Melbourne, Australia to visit Cindy's brother and his family.

I will have good internet access in Melbourne so I will try and update my Picasa photo album.