From mudpools to rockpools

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We have spent a couple of days in Roturua in the centre of North Island. Roturua has magma quite close to the earth’s surface and has hot springs and sulphurous mud pools. The photos don’t do justice to the smell which is all pervading. The landscape is difficult to get your head round - hot plopping mud and sulphur springs close to normal plants and buildings constructed on what appears to be solid ground.

We met up with the Norths again for a few days in the Kauaeranga Valley at the South end of the Coromandel peninsula near Thames which originally developed because of the 19c gold rush. The pace of life here seems to be zzzzzzz.... (sorry fell asleep). We stayed in a wood cabin in what appeared to be the middle of nowhere. It was great. The kids enjoyed jumping and swimming in the river and building dams. We also walked into the bush in search of the elusive Kauri trees. These monsters covered the landscape until they were almost all taken for logging - the trees grow very straight with few lower branches and therefore have no or little knots in them.

We really like New Zealand North Island, the lush countryside and space. All the people we have met are relaxed and friendly. Incredible to think about the changes which have occurred in 150 years since significant numbers of Europeans emigrated here. After an enjoyable evening at the Kentish Hotel in Waiuku which is the oldest continually licensed pub in NZ (don’t talk about Fatty’s experience in the toilets) we are ready to depart back to OZ where I believe it is raining again!

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Photos

Soaking our feet in the Mud Pool
The water was hot

Flirty with a Poi
The Poi is a used in some traditional Maori dances

Comments

[Helen]

Green with envy!
I love the sound of North Island and would give a lot to soak my feet in hot mud right now. It certainly beats the lashing rain on the window. Looking forward to the next instalment.

[Hannah and Lauren]

dear all!! photos look fabulous as usual. we love the enormous tree it makes even fatty look small!!! the mudpools looked blobby and smelly. only a couple of weeks untill you are back in the UK can't wait to see you love from Hannah, Lauren and Gill xxxxxxx