Tues 11 Nov 2014 We woke this morning to a wet and gale battered Wellington - we now understand how it got the name 'Windy Wellington'. We braved the elements and went to Mass at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cathedral (a 15 minute walk from the hotel) followed by breakfast back at the hotel. Afterward a walk around the city centre and a vist to the Te Papa Museum. The Australian Ruby League Team was staying close by and we saw some of the boys Corey Parker, Sam ...

10 Nov 2014 We left Masterton bound for Wellington and drove through Carterton, Greytown and Featherstone. Then began the climb up the mountain forming the Taratua National Park - a steep, winding, treacherous stretch of road. On the way we stopped at Rivendell. The spot now known as Rivendell at Kaitoke Regional Park was a significant location site for the filming of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. We walked across the narrow swinging suspension bridge for vie...

9 Nov 2014 - Rotorua to Masterton We say farewell to Rotorua as we head off to the Waiotapu mud pools 10 minutes south of Rotorua. This is a large area of thermal activity with many large bubbling, boiling mud pools. Leaving the mud pools behind we set off for Lake Taupo travelling through sheep and cattle country with magnificent countryside, deep gorges and snow-capped mountains - very picturesque indeed. On the way we stop to have a look at the Wairakie Th...

Sat 8 Nov 2014 First thing we set off for the Agrodome - a working sheep farm with displays and demonstrations of the various breeds of sheep, sheep dog yarding and milking cows. A ram of 18 different sheep breeds were displayed and the presenter briefly explained the history and origin of each. He then shore a sheep followed by a demonstration of the sheep dogs - first the Border Collie then the NZ Barking Dog or Huntaway (bred from a cross of Black Labrador, H...

Sadly we leave leave Paihia and the Bay of Islands and head for Rotorua stopping at Auckland for lunch and to collect another couple joining the tour. We head to Auckland - 227 klm - retracing the track we took on Wednesday. We arrived into Auckland and headed off to do some shopping and have some lunch while the rest of the tour went for a visit to the Sky Tower. Back on the coach were headed for Rotorua - a trip of 228 klm. The countryside changes from roll...