Last few days in NZ

Hi all,

We are now in Auckland, seeing the sights and getting ready for our trip across the Pacific to America.

We have had a fantastic time in NZ, and spent the last three weeks seeing some of the North Island -- we have visited Napier and its Art Deco architecture (courtesy of a complete post-earthquake rebuild in the 1930's), where we also did a little more wine tasting, and can heartily recommend Mission Estates to anyone (note: only place they export to is Sheffield, so Becky we have a mission for you!).

We then headed on to Lake Taupo, where we spent a couple of days chilling out and fighting off traditional British colds :-( ... the lake is beautiful, and the nearby falls also very impressive. From Taupo we also visited the "Craters of the Moon" - which is a very smelly and very active geothermal area.

Our next stop was Rotorua, which also boasts a pretty sulphurous atmosphere (which Anne kept trying to blame on me) - it does also boast a fine selection of hot springs, which we sank into for a good half a day; as well as visiting a traditional Maori fortified village and attending a Hangi banquet (a traditional Maori method of cooking, where the food is buried in baskets above hot stones for several hours to slow cook). Some of the best lamb we have had in NZ - and we've had plenty to compare it with!

From Rotorua, we then headed north into the Coromandel and to the famous hot water beach -- where we were able to dig a hole in the sand and sit in hot water (heated from active geothermal underground steam etc.) whilst the cold sea water gradually washed over us. A quite bizarre, but brilliant experience. From there we drove around to Auckland for one night, before meeting up with Sarita, Hamish and their little boy Mason.

We spent a week with them in the Bay of Islands (specifially staying in several places in and around Paihia) - during the week we visited Cape Reinga, the northern most point of NZ where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean meet. We also cruised the Bay of Islands and attempted to swim with dolphins.

Photos to follow soon. Must dash, one minute left but a further update once we reach California.

D&A.