Sunday 13th May

Rotorua
The trip on the Magic Bus was incredibly relaxed. The bus driver talks you through the surroundings and stops regularly so that you can take photos or simply for a break. The bus took a couple of hours to get to Waitomo where we had a stop for three hours in order to admire the magnificant glow worm caves. Our very enthusiastic English guide took us down through the caves down to a boat. Once aboard he lead us (using only rope) through the dark and damp caves. The ceilings were magically lightened by thousands of glow worms, it was a truely relaxing experience although very brief. Therefore, this left us with plenty of time until the bus was due to depart. So Suzie, Frank and myself walked up a very big hill before hitting a cafe for lunch.
Once in Rotorua Suzie and I went to a Maori evening, where local performers present the cultural dance and song in combination with a delicious traditionally hangi cooked meal. The evening was fantastic and, yes, they performed the famous Haka, which was very dramatic and energetic. To round off the evening the bus driver entertained us all the way back to the youth hostel.
Once used to the smell, Rototua is a lovely city with obvious character. I spent a day walking around the sights recommended by my trusted Lonely Planet and then went for a walk in the Redwoods Forrest. From the summit I took a while to take in the breathtaking views of the city and surrounding volcanoes before heading back through town and to my hostel. It is remarkable to see the pools in the park steaming and bubbling from geothermal activity. To finish the evening I went for a lovely swim in the local pool which was just around the corner from the hostel.

Taupo
The journey on the bus seemed to take forever from Rotorua. It was not far but the driver stopped a little too much for people to do activities such as Bungy jumping and Jet Boating (neither of which I was interested in). However we did stop first at a fantastic mud pool, due to the geothermal activity it bubbled and boiled ferrousiously. It was incredible. Then just round the corner was a Thermal Wonderland with pools, craters and views galour. The colours of the sulphur stained rock and the pools are vibrant and eye-catching.
Once at the Hostel Liz and I took a walk into town and had a stop off in a cafe for some cake - it was raining and miserable!!! Then we booked our place to do the Tongariro Crossing on Saturday. So, the day started at a much too early time of 5:45 in order to catch the bus to the beginning of our expedition. Very energetically we began the hike the pace did slow somewhat when we got to the Devil's Staricase (which lives upto it's name). Unfortunately the weather let us down a little, as it was cloudy so visability wasn't very good. Once on top though we had a lunch stop at the top of the Red Crater, the rocks were warming our bottom's as we sat there. We waited for approximately 5 minutes for a break in the cloud and when it did the spectacular red rock lined crater was below us. It was huge and incredibly steep. Beautiful calm blue emerald lakes line the foot of this crater, we wondered through them taking lots of photos. All in all the walk took about six and a half hours and, unexpectantly, I didn't find it too strenuous. It was an amazing day, the terrain changes quickly when you walk through the volcanoes and, at times, it feels like you're on another planet! I'd do it again! It was just a shame about the weather because we missed out on some spectacular views.
Luckily the weather this morning brightened and the cloud lifted. So as the bus driver passed the volcanoes he stopped so that we could take some photos of the breath-taking mountains and volcanoes that dominate the landscape.
Wellington
I've just arrived in Wellington. Once booked into my hostel I wandered down to the harbour, tok a brief stroll and then decided to begin a walk around the huge mueseum 'Te Papa'. The displays about the local volcanoes and natural disasters were really interesting. One display had an earthquake simulator, it was quite scary the force and amount the whole room moved. So tomorrow I'm going to spend my day in Wellington and then Tuesday I catch the ferry to the South Island. Time is certainly flying, it won't be long until I return to the U.K!!!!