Friday 11 February

You will be pleased to know that we went for our walk along the beach last night and enjoyed it very much although we had left it a bit late and it was dark by the time we got back!

Not such an exciting day as we have been on the road again driving from Kuoatunu to Rotorua. It took an age to drive the tortured switchback roads off the Coromandel peninsula (beautiful scenery though) but then we were able to pick up some speed. On the way we stopped in Waihi to look at an open cast gold mine. The hole in the ground is enormous and there was little sign of activity considering it produces a million dollars of gold every week. The weather had become quite wet and showery and spoilt our next stop, a walk to the top of Mount Maunganui. Mind you, you only have to see the lush countryside here to realise that there must be a fair amount of rain.

We are now at our latest B&B “The Springs” which is run by Murray and Coleen, they remind us of Richard and Hyacinth Bucket in Keeping Up Appearances! It is beautifully kept and very tastefully furnished. Steve was chuffed because Coleen had baked him a special banana bread to have with a cup of tea when we arrived.

Rotorua is a famous tourist attraction because of its geysers and so it has earned it's name of Sulphur City! Tomorrow we will find out more about it.