Played 5 games of table tennis this morning after breakfast. We have played a lot as tables are at exit of buffet. Only other people around were out in open on top deck, nice and sunny. After about 40 minutes a guy watches us for a while and then presents us with prizes - torch keyrings. There was a table tennis competition (we checked when we got back to cabin and it shows up there). Anyway, as we were only ones there so we won. . . RWC 2011 TT Champions!

8 hour shore excersion today, but sounds like a lot of variety. Thermal springs, gondola and luge. Cannot wait to try luge, guy from Gullivers (our tour firm) said he had tried it - scary ride like in bob sleigh except you sit up and have handle bars to slow you down! So coach trip took us through Rotorua and first stop was a muddy lake which was boiling and giving off smelly steam, then off to Lady Knox Geyser. It erupts at 10.15am every day, so we got to see t...

We have been here 2 days, lot of talk about the grounded ship leaking oil and containers. We have seen some evidence as parts of beach closed as rocks need cleaned, but sandy parts already cleaned. We have seen nothing of ship as it is 22 kilometres out to sea on a reef. As we sailed out of port tonight we did not see it or any containers - expect we gave area a wide berth. Everyone here does not expect ship to do anything other than break up - apparently well ...

Dad made me go around shops after kayaking, hunting for wifi signal. I hate shopping! Anyway got myself some fancy pens, a joke book, Manuka honey and lemonade. 1.5L bottle cost same as small can on board. We are now sat in comfy chairs on Deck 6 overlooking deck 5. Deck 7 is open above us as well and it is in this enormous area that show is about to begin. Pacific Cirque. Could not have asked for better view, we can lean over and almost touch them.

Off kayaking today on the Lake McLaren. The port we are in is Tauranga, famous for the recent ship wreck, oil leak and spilled containers. We got to see little of any mess, ship or containers as long way out. Sat in the cafe now after kayaking, lots of fun because we went in a split in the rocks and at night there are thousands of glow worms. Then there was a race to get up on the bank and as we started to row some people blocked us and we rammed right in to the...