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Hi busy couple of days. We left Papamoa on Thursday and headed down to Rotorua, stopped at a place called Hell's Gate on the way, an area with lots of natural geothermal activity - boiling mud pools, lakes and steam coming out of the ground in random places - it was amazing but really smelly and the kids didn't really like it - too much walking involved! Then we drove to our campsite in Rotorua - I was in charge of deciding which one - such a responsibility! It's actually a nice quiet one, mostly tourists we have our only bubbling mud pool on site, a natural steam oven, some warm mineral pools (I'm going to be totally cured by the time I get back!!) and we can walk to lake Rotorua down a litlle path with steaming pools and on the shores of the lake you can dig a pool and get warm water. The lake is a lovely temperature to paddle in too. The kids are happy 'cause there's a pool and playground! The first afternoon we visited the museum then just chilled out back at the site. Yesterday we visited the Sky lift which took us up the side of a mountain with stunning veiws, then we went back down on a tobbogan thing (quite fast and scary for me anyway!) then back up on a chair lift then back down again -we did it 4 times it was so much fun! Then we drove down the road to Rainbow springs - a wild life park nestled around some natural springs with pools packed full of huge trout, some native NZ birds and a few farm animals. We also managed to see the elusive kiwi - it was in a darkened enclosure and we were staring at it for ages before Thomas noticed it. So at least we can say we've seen one - very odd looking creature! We then headed back to the campsite for a swim then at 5.30 we went out on a 'Duck tour' round Rotorua - totally naff and touristy but fun. It was in a WWII amphibious vehicle so we went all round Rotorua and saw the sights then went in 2 of the nearby lakes, the scenery was stunning. Unfortunately the commentary was rather boring and so the novelty wore off for the boys after an hour (and me too if I'm honest!) Back to the campsite for late tea and bed. We decided to stay another night just to chill out really and the boys are finding it confusing that we're moving every day. Today we had a reasonably lazy day, supermarket shop, picnic in the park which has it's own bubbling, steaming pools then played in the playground. Back to the site for a swim and paddle in the lake then we treated ourselves to a meal out at the Fat Dog cafe, it was great and nice not to have to wash up afterwards.
We're on the move again tomorrow off to Lake Taupo. Unfortunately we haven't had a computer lately where we can download photos but hopefully we'll find one soon. Thanks for all your messages it's lovely to hear from you.
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