Thanks to everyone for reading up till now

Jim and jane

We went on the next day to Kaikoura where we just relaxed and swam in the hostel pool. Next we travelled to Picton where we said goodbye to the South island and doarded a ferry for the North island. It was an old Channel ferry called 'the pride of Cherbourg' Despite promising 100Km an hour winds the crossing was smooth and the storm didn't hit til later that evening when we were in Wellington.

The next day we travelled to Napier which was devastated by an 8.4 earthquake in the 30's and was rebuilt as an Art Deco town, it was facinating. However, before we got there, we stopped off at a little place where they were reintroducing Kiwis etc back into the wild. the Kiwi was facinating, we were watching it under some sort of lighting which convinced the kiwi it was night, so we watched as it grubbed around for worms. Shortly after that the bus broke down and we waited for an hour until a mechanic arrived, canabilised the steering and pronounced the bus fit to drive!! We then visited the Tui brewery, where you get to buy 3 pints of beer for $2, there were a few jolly people when we finally got back on the bus!!

The next day it was Lake Taupo, where we did a 2 hour boat ride to see Maori carvings, and a 26 Km walk the next day where we saw a hot thermal stream (which we paddled in) a place called the Hukka falls where all the water leaving Lake Taupo is channelled through a narrow gap, and finally the Aratiatia dam. Here the sluice gates are opened 4 times a day, allowing vast amounts of water into the almost dry river bed. An awsome sight!!

Finally we reached Rotorua where we plan to spend 3 nights, the first night we visited Tamaki Maori village, for a cultural evening, with lots of food. The next day Jane went white water rafting, a level 5 river which is the highest commercial level, and 3 waterfalls 3metres, 4 metres and 7 metres!!!! I waved her off and waited anxiously for her return 4 hours later. She was a little pale when she did return but very proud of her achievement!! While jane was away I went carol singing and watched the santa parade, that was more than enough excitement for me. After lunch we went for another walk looking at thermal pools etc. In the evening we went to the cinema to see Quantum of solace, not as good as the last one we thought.

Today we went to visit another thermal wonderland, boiling mud pools, hot water pools, chemical pools and geysers!!! I've used up another 2g camera card!!!

This afternnon we went to the spa and soaked our aches away in pools at 42C, fantastic!!

That's about all for now

Love Jim and jane

well we're on the North island now and guess what? they had a 4.2 earthquake on the South island not far from Lake Te Anau where we were staying earlier.

We're now in the hotter island and are going walking tomorrow.

Will write again soon when we have more time available

Love to all

Jim and Jane