Queenstown, South Island

Our first view of the South Island

Arrived here yesterday and spent today filling every minute - there is so much to do here! 
We started the day with a trip up the Skyline gondola and the luge track.  This is the most adrenalin filled activity we intend to do and was great fun.  We weren't sure what to expect and only bought two runs but wished we'd bought four!  Our next stop was the Kiwi Birdlife Park.  As well as several NZ birds there are two kiwi houses which are in darkness to enable visitors to see the kiwis in their natural habitat.  We went to a feeding session and were given an informative talk on the kiwi.  We were not allowed to take photos or make any noise to avoid disturbing the kiwis.   It was a real priviledge to see them searching for food and going in and out of their burrows. 
After a late pizza lunch we went for trip on the TSS (Twin Screw Steamer) Earnslaw.  David was in seventh heaven in the engine room on the trip to Walter Peak where we went ashore for a guided tour round the Colonel's Homestead.  The McKenzie family built the original homestead which was lost in a fire but rebuilt and is now a restaurant function venue.  The lovely gardens have a very English feel about them with a croquet lawn and English plants and trees.  The tour included wine tasting on the terrace of the Middle House and inside the main house before our trip back which included a sing song with the ship's pianist.  Lovely views across the lake during the trip.

The Remarkables Mountain Range as the sun goes down

Queenstown from the Skyline Gondola

The Luge

 Start of the luge run

Banded Rail in the Kiwi Birdlife Park

Red headed parakeet

David in the engine room of the TSS Earnslaw

TSS Earnslaw off Walter Peak Homstead

Middle house at the Colonel's Homestead

The mountains from TSS Earnslaw

Hawkes Bay and Napier

This is our last stop in the North Island - where has the time gone?  We are staying just outside Napier and arrived in the pouring rain.  Today the weather has changed again and it has been hot and sunny.   We started the day in the town of  Hastings which is another Art Deco town although not so much as Napier.  We then drove up a very scary road to Te Mata Peak from which there are fantastic views all round Hawkes Bay.  Spent the afternoon on Ocean Beach enjoying the sun and surf before taking the scenic route home past some of the many vineyards in the area.

Hastings Town

One of the many sculptures in Hastings

Opera House Hastings

David has gone native - note the Maori eyes!

Greek Orthodox Church Hastings

Water sculpture in Hastings

View from Te Mata Peak

Anzac Lone Pine - planted on Te Matga as a living memorial to men who died at Gallipoli

Ocean Beach

Turangi

Walk round Lake Rotopournamu

Today was whitewater rafting day!  Had a brilliant morning rafting down the Tongariro River.  We stopped part way down the 13km stretch to jump off a rock into one of the pools of icy cold water.  I only did it as I was being egged on by two good looking medical students who were part of our crew!!  I can't believe I also got out of a perfectly good inflatable raft to drift down the fast flowing river on my back - note David didn't do this!
The rafting company gave us a CD of photos but unfortunately we can't put them on the netbook so you will have to wait until we get home to see them.
The rest of our time here we have spent walking along the river and round one of the lakes.  The scenery is fantastic and everyone keeps telling us that the South Island is even better.
We are fortunate that we are nowhere near Christchurch and like everyone in NZ our thoughts are with those who are suffering following the earthquake yesterday.  The New Zealanders are very resiliant and seem to be dealing with it extremely well.  Needless to say TVG coverage is non stop.

Huka Falls

Taupo Yacht Club Committee Boat!

Major Jones' Bridge, Tangariro River (max 10 persons)

Tangariro River

Lake Taupo in the distance

A cooling paddle in the lake - wish I'd remembered my swimming costume

Welcome rest on one of our walks

Beaches of Lake Rotopournamu

Rotorua

Our second day in Rotorua started with a walk round the lakeside to the Government Gardens.  These lovely gardens house the Rotorua Museum as well as providing bowling greens, croquet lawns, a golf course and some lovely gardens. 
After lunch, a quick visit to Ohinemutu Maori village and St Faiths Church before we made our way to Lake Okareka for a swim in the lovely clear water.   A drive round to look at the Blue and Green Lakes before a visit to the Redwood Grove forest, a huge area of walks and trails.  We only had time to walk up to the Lookout - a bit of a climb but a great view over the lake.  Our final stop of the day was the Thermal Gardens and then back to our accommodation for a swim and a relaxing session in the thermal bath. 
Roturua is a truly amazing place and although Hazel had told me about the hot springs and steam all over the city it was impossible to imagine.  The sulphur smell is also very strong in some areas but thankfully not where we are staying. 

Rotorua Lake

Rotorua Museum

Government Gardens

David in Lake Okareka

Redwoood Grove Forest

Thermal Gardens

St Faiths Church Ohinemutu

Rotorua

We've just come to the end of a hectic day and a half in Rotorua.  We arrived at lunchtime yesterday and went straight to the thermal village of Whakarewarewa.  This village is inhabited by 65 Maoris who still follow the Maori way of life.  Our guide took us on an interesting and informative tour of the village which included viewing the Prince of Wales and Pohuta geysers.  We also watched a show given by the locals.  We completed our "Maori" day with a visit to the Mitai Village for a Hangi dinner and a traditional cultural performance.  Hangi is the method of cooking using the thermal springs and steam rising from them.  The food is put in an "oven" on the ground and left to cook using the natural heat.   Food is also wrapped in muslin and boiled in the hot pools.   The evening finished with a short walk to see the glow worms in the bush.  

Prince of Wales and Pohutu Geysers

Thernal Activity in Whakarewarewa Village

Maori Show

Thermal lakes from viewpoint above village

Hangi Dinner Cooking

Cultural Performance

Maori canoe going down the stream

Waihi Beach

We were sorry to have to leave to leave the Coromandel Peninsula as there was still some exploring to do but we needed to move south if we were to see Rotorua and the surrounding area.  It was apparent that Rotura was going to be very busy at the weekend so we stopped off at Waihi Beach for a couple of days.  We also needed to catch up on the laundry so the Top 10 Holiday Park suited our needs although much bigger than we would like. 
Here we did our first real walk of the holiday (or tramp as it is called in NZ) on a trail to the William Wright Falls via Orokawa Bay - a round trip of 8 miles on a hot day.  A lovely walk though and a refreshing paddle in the stream at the falls.  Also ventured into the sea at the very beautiful Orokawa Bay but there was too much surf to swim.
We move on to Roturua tomorrow.

Waihi Beach from the cliff path

Orokawa Bay from the cliff path

William Wright Falls

David at the Falls - the "steps" in the rock lead to another pool but not for us as it was flat rock straight up!

Relaxing at the falls!