Up early and out to Waiotapu the geothermal park. As you drive thru the countryside you can see plumes of steam rising from vents in the forest floor..they don't allow anyone to walk there as the surface isn't stable and drop you into a boiling cauldron at any moment. Next stop were the bubbling mud pools and then onto Lady Knox geyser that goes off at 10.15 every morning ..it was a little disppointing that it's science not nature that makes it go off with such ...

The journey to Auckland went very smoothly..but I nearly lost my swiss card again! Can anyone explain why a knitting needle or a crochet hook is o.k. but a pair of scissors with blades just over an inch long is considered a dangerous weapon. ..go figure? ?? Didn't get to see a lot of Auckland. ..I arrived at 23.55 and had to be at a bus stop about 15 kms away by 7.40 the next day. Friendly taxi driver was telling me all about his family in the uk. Got to the co...