Auckland to Rotorura

So, today we leave Auckland and start to head south.   First we need to get a cab to the car rental place,  though for some strange reason our neat packing we did on the way out has failed us and now we seem to have loads of bags.  Rather than moving two individuals it seems more like we are trying to move a light infantry regiment with all the supporting equipment.

We pick up our car with little hassle and lots of signatures then we head towards Rotorura.  It doesn't take me long to get the hang of driving an automatic.  But what does take a while, is getting the hang of the indicators being on the wrong stalk.  Every time I turn I hit the wipers instead,  seems that we have caused a lot of confusion on the roads of North Island but at least we won't get stopped for having a dirty windscreen.
The scenery on the route is rolling and full of cows.  No idea where all the sheep in NZ have gone but at least I know where Anchor butter comes from now.  It's an easy drive down to Rotorura, with just a stop at The Breakfast shed in Cambridge for a snack and a chance to bash my head on the boot lid of the car.  This leaves a nice cut on my forehead, which looks very attractive. Then its on to Rotorura.

Turns out we are actually staying in a lake resort just outside of Rotorura,  which is  nice and peaceful and full of American coach tourists. We prefer it to the hotels we saw in town- we have a view of the lake and  a posh room with huge internal shutters between the bedroom and toilet. This I feel is an architectural feature which will not catch on.

A quick cup of tea on arrival, then we headed on to Hells Gate which is a geothermal area with lots of mud pools, and the Southern Hemisphere's highest warm water water fall.  We had a walk round the steaming landscape which looked just like a Doctor Who set, but this time it was real, not a quarry in Wales with a smoke machine. This was followed by a mud and sulphur bath.  A mud bath is the traditional Maori way of cleansing the skin, fleecing tourists and making white people look ridiculous. A Sulphur bath performs the same functions but makes them smell of poo as well.

Then back to the hotel for an evening meal during which I bravely tasted beetroot...which was nice.  Maria tried it and agreed it didn't actually taste like beetroot,  which is probable why it was pleasant! Before retiring  to bed I managed to hit another part of my head on the underside of the TV, stupidly positioned above the tea / coffee making facilities. Maria can make her own camomile tea while we stay here........