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Well we are getting further south now. After leaving Mr and Mrs V in Whangere first thing on Wednesday 21st, we got back to Auckland in order to swap the rental car for the 6 berth Campervan that will be our home for the next three weeks. First impressions were that it was huge and too large to drive, but its funny after a few days it seems far too small !
Our route took us initially Eastwards to see the Coromandel Penisula staying the night in Whitianga (ion Mercury Bay where Captain Cook moored and tracked Mercury). The East coast was far nicer than the west coast of the penisular which was very wining for the big van. On Thursday we followed the route 25 down the coast, stopping in Whangamata and Weihi beach before stopping the night in a really nice camper van park at Omokoroa beach. This had three thermal pools which were perfect for us to continue the Hot Tub Tour. The children are all improving with their swimming with Amelia is now very confident and dives in and keeps her head low and bum up !
We then run on to Rototura, a lake further south with loads of Geysers and yet more thermal pools. The Campervan park we stayed at for 2 nights had four thermal pools (at about 36-40 degrees celcius) plis a nice normal swimming pool. We spent Saturday (24th) at the Te Piou Maouri comunity and Whacka Thermal Valley place full of bubbling mud pools and the second largest Geyser in the world. This proved popular with the kids as we were given a great insight to the Maouri and New Zealand cultural beliefs and history from our Maouri guide and were able to see some mauri welcome dances and songs.
That brings us to today...Sunday 25th February. We got up early to act on Mr & Mrs V's recomendation of taking the cable car and going on the Luge. THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC FUN ! The childrens all took on different super mario Kart characters and raced down the hillside in the trolley-like Luge's. In the end we all had three runs and a bundle of laughs.
This took us to Lunch time and so we hit the road for an an hour or so to arrive at Lake Taupo. We found our CamperVan park (with its obligatory Thermal Pool) before heading to the AC Baths...a complex of large Thermallly heated pools, regular swimming pools and water slides. I tell you the Thermal pools are great but we find we have to keep getting out to cool off. Amelia has ignored her fathers injury and today was swinging off a rope swing into one of the pools...showing him just how its down. She and Matthew then spent the rest of the afternoon going up and down the water slide tubes. As the park was pretty empty, there were no ques and so go chance to do loads of "gos".
We will stay here tomorrow also night. Planning on seeing a prawn farm, the worlds second largest Geo-thermal power station and may go Kayaking - if there is time.
Alas no chance to upload any photos at this internet cafe... but hope to do so soon.
PS The Postcard photos above is from Rotorura
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