Monday 8th August

Woke up to a beautiful (smelly!) morning in Rotorua.
Packed up and set off for The Luge! A large volcano overlooking Rotorua which you can hurtle down at top speed in a little metal cart!! Made for great fun and in bright sunshine was a nice start to the day.

Headed south towards Taupo and had lunch with Sue and Bruce at Wai-o-Tapu where the thermal pools are much more vibrant in colour with the Champagne pools etc.
Carried on driving down the Geo Thermal highway which is quite strange seeing steam rising from the ground all around us.

Stopped on route at the magnificent Huka Falls which is a massive torrent of water flowing through a crack in the rock.

Arrived at Lake Taupo which is the crater from a huge volcanic explosion 1800 years ago and booked in to a lovely little motel at De Bretts natural hot springs.
Very quickly we were all in the hot pools which were approx 39'. One pool was 29' which felt positively cold and I stayed mostly in the hot pool of 41'!!
Sue sue and Bruce had to take a private pool due to Sue's lack of a costume!! Good excuse me thinks!!

Paul chose the restaurant this evening which turned out to be a great fun Chinese where you choose your raw ingredients and they are cooked on a hot wok in front of you.
Oscar was in his element continuously filling bowls with different combinations. Even George managed to choose a few combinations and of course finished with a number of freshly made pancakes!!
Everyone slept well!!