So, we'll ignore the bit about the fire alarm going off at 2:15 in the morning shall we? While the last groups did their caving trip, the rest of us went for a bit of a walk followed by the bizarre spectacle of rabbit-shearing. Yes folks, rabbit-shearing. I'll let the photos do the talking, there is very little to say except that the fur is lovely and soft, but also very warm when it comes off the rabbit. Oh, and by strange coincidence the rabbits they use are G...

Rotorua is right in the centre of New Zealand's geothermal activity, and today started with a trip to Te Puia, just a few minutes out of town, for a tour of the mud pools and geysers. Tempting though it may be to try the local mud, this should only be done with the stuff you find in the shops - the stuff in the ground is approximately 95 degrees at the surface and would have a much greater exfoliating effect than is pleasant. There were also displays here of ma...

Our early start today was foiled by some sort of fan belt-related issue, and it was only thanks to the presence of an aussie-rules football, a set of uno cards and some very creative imaginations that we didn't go mnad waiting for a replacement bus to get to us. The upshot of this was that we missed our trek in Karangahake Scenic Reserve, but on the bright side we still got to see Paeroa (where the 'P' in L&P comes from; L&P is an endemic soft drink, sa...

We started the day with a visit to the top of Mt Eden for 360-degree views over Auckland. It's a dormant volcano, and the site of a pretty funny April-fool's prank involving students (obviously), burning tyres and the population of Auckland fearing an impending eruption. We headed to the Coromandel Peninsula, stopping to trek down to Cathedral Cove for some time in the sun. Please note: New Zealand in early November is much like Cornwall in early May - the sun...

With the sights of Auckland exhausted (honestly) it was up to Paihia where you can visit the site on which the Treaty of Waitangi was signed and then lost in translation. It's pretty well done, with some good displays and an enormous canoe that was built to mark the centenary of the Treaty. The big attraction in Paihia is the day trip to Cape Reinga. this included taking in 90-mile beach (which is a lot less than 90 miles long) where we discovered what a 'sweepe...