Did the earth move for you darling?

Thursday 2nd

A day of travelling, from Thames to Whakatane.  A good drive, stopping at Mount Maunganui Beach (#1 beach in NZ on trip advisor and in the world's top 25 beaches) for a beach side coffee shop with all the other hipsters and surfing dudes.  Well there was the odd pensioner there as well.  Caffeined up we continued to Whakatane to book up a trip to the active volcano named White Island for Friday. 

The afternoon was spent on the famous Ohope Beach voted NZ's best loved beach with safe swimming and surfing (we did neither).  In glorious sunny 'wither'' (25°) it was a picture - 11km of sand backed by Pohutukawa trees, expensive houses and little cafes, art shops, etc.  I tried the latter two.

We then found our latest, for one night only, motel ... the Livingston Motel (well it was a must, all but one 'e').  Anyway, we unpacked and sat down with a cuppa when the earth moved!!!?  A slight tremor was felt twice - a little worrying,  but no tea was spilt.

On the tectonic plate movement theme we had some disappointing news this morning when paying our hotel bill.  OF1 asked about the siren and apparently it was not the tsunami siren being tested but the siren to call all the volunteer firefighters to the station for a "shout".  Still it was a good story at the time....

In the local shop we had our next lesson on "teach yourself New Zealand" when OF1 was completely flummoxed by the cashier who asked her about quiche.  We had a small spinach and feta quiche in the shopping bag but it took an OF1 query to ascertain that she was asking, "card or quiche?".

Friday

Gross disappointment.  At 8am we had a phone call and "Imma sid the wither" (that's:  Emma said the weather) was not to the captain's taste and the trip to the volcano was cancelled.  For the first time in NZ it was raining (a little) but also windy.  With 45km of sea to cross and use inflatables to land it was too dangerous to try.  Were we downhearted?  Why, .......... yes.  Absolutely fed up but as one door closes another opens.  OF1 has promised me a trip to Sicily - we saw a great agro-tourism place from which one can see the glow of Etna. Next holiday sorted.

We set off for Rotorua and arrived at coffee time.  We were on our final descent to the centre when we noticed a dreadful smell and smoke to our left.  We stopped and found that this was Kuirau Park.  It is a public
park where you can wander amongst boiling mud pools, steam vents, hot water pools, etc.  It was quite amazing (and smelly) as each thermal attraction only had a small fence around it and the public were free to roam, picnic, etc.  By coffee the sun was out and rising quickly back up to 28°C today as the cloud and rain moved northwards.  We scooted around the centre looking in craft shops and buying lunch in a local bakery.  We went down to the lake to munch our sarnies (well I put my hand up to an award winning steak & cheese pie) and watched a seaplane ("float plane" here) take off.

The afternoon turned out to be pretty special.  We went to Wai-O-Tapu  Thermal Wonderland which sounds pretty naff and something to run far away from BUT it is highly rated on good old Trip Advisor and it deserves the plaudits.  The park is beautifully kept and well laid out in a series of loops.  We did the lot at some 3km but there were a myriad of photo opportunities and information to be read.  We saw a whole range of geo-thermal features.  These included, craters, mud pools, sinter terraces, sulphur caves, geyser (but not erupting) and caves.  These were all fascinating but the colours of the minerals that are deposited in rings around the pools and colour the water were simply stunning.  There were yellows, greens, reds and whites all of which we saw through swirling clouds of sulphurous steam.  It was a real awe and wonder afternoon.

All this geothermal stuff is not just at the thermal parks but alongside the road there is the odd bit of steam rising or signpost to "mud pool".  We also drove past a thermal power station.

We recovered with a delicious mango sorbet before heading on to our motel for the next two nights at Taupo.  We are at the Sails Motel which overlooks the lake (well our "unit" is back from the road and we have what estate agents would call 'lake glimpses').  This is another very good place and the unit even has a separate lounge and bedroom.  A quick sortie to the local Countdown (no Rachel Riley here - it's like Tesco) to stock up on a few local products (mainly beer and wine) for dinner and packed lunches. Lake Taupo is huge: 48km x 35km and has lots of walking routes, water activities, extreme sports, etc.

Writing this with a chilled glass of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc in my hand - sorry about the wet pages and blurry writing. 

Today's lesson in the speak New Zealand course was the answer to a problem we have been grappling with for a few days.  You will remember that early doors we sacked headmistress Jocye from our sat-nav and installed Kiwi Bin (spelt Ben).  When you reach your destination he tells us to, "grab your togs, jandels and chillixxxxx and get going.  Cheers for the ride mate". The last item we had to grab has been eluding us until tonight - it is "Chilly Bin" which translates as Cool Box.

We are aiming to be fluent by March....see you mate.