Rotorua- Mud Pools Geysers and Spa pools

After leaving Auckland we picked up our hire car and headed for Rotorua. The drive was really lovely, Lots of tree ferns and Pampas grasses growing in their natural habitat and hundreds of Agapanthus lining the roads. There are lots of dead, squished Possums on the roads they are quite a menace out here Booked into our motel where we have a spa pool, very spacious room, kitchen etc. which sems to be the norm for NZ.We then head off to see the blue & green lakes, have a bit of a paddle & laze in the sun. Back into the town and go to Kurkia park, to see the mud pools. It was quite a scary thing to see boling mud coming up from the ground and great coloums of steam. Had a great dinner in a local restaurant and a bottle of Sacred Hills SB. Went tp the Wai o Tapu thermal reserve and saw the famous mudpool and geysers absoluely fab but what a smell. Off to Napier this afternoon. Temperature 26c.

Auckland Sky Dives & Dinner with Friends

We had a good flight from Singapore arrived at the hotel 1.30am today Tues. Woke to a warm but cloudy city. First stop the Sky Tower www.skycityauckland.co.nz for the sky jump. Shame it was closed as we were both looking forward to it! Ha Ha. I was even scared going up in the lift let alone walking on the glass floor, goodness knows how high up we were! Magnificent views! Some strange people were strapped to harnesess and were walking around the outside on a narrow metal grid. WHY?
Later on Juliette picked us up and we went to Mount Eden to look at the volcanos that surround Auckland, back to thier house for dinner to meet Paul, Thomas and Alex had a great time. Juilette then took us round the bays. Thank you so much.

Dim Sum & Singapore Slings!

Well here we are safe & sound. Had a great flight arrived to bright sunshine & hot weather 31c. Have toured round the island on open top bus. Been to the Botanical gardens & seen the National Orchid Collection. Yesterday evening after dinner went to Raffles for one or 2 Singapore slings as you do. Left with a much lighter wallet but loved the Long Bar. Went on the river boat trip this morning. Had an amazing chilli crab for lunch in china town. Great preparations are under way as it is Chinese New Year tomorrow so many celebrations tonight. However not for us as we are early to bed as leaving for airport at 6am. Auckland here we come!

Thanks to you all for your comments love to hear from you! PS had a bit of trouble getting logged onto here as the default language was Mandarin!

Itinerary

23-Jan Fly to Singapore
24-Jan Arrive Singapore
25-Jan Singapore
26-Jan Leave Singapore
26-Jan Arrive Auckland
27-Jan Auckland
28-Jan Pick up car drive to Whangamata
28-Jan Rotorua
29-Jan Napier
31-Jan Martinborough
02-Feb Wellington
04-Feb Ferry to Picton
04-Feb Picton to Blenheim
06-Feb Blenheim
07-Feb Blenheim to Kaikoura
08-Feb Kaikoura
09-Feb Kaikoura
10-Feb Kaikoura to Akaroa
11-Feb Akaroa to Tekapo
12-Feb Tekapo to Arrowtown
13-Feb Arrowtown to Te Anau
14-Feb Te Anau to Milford Sound
14-Feb Milford Sound to Queenstown
15-Feb Queenstown / Wanaka
16-Feb Wanaka to Franz Joesph
17-Feb Franz Joseph / Fox Glacier
18-Feb Fox Glacier to Greymouth
18-Feb Trans Alpine Express to Christchurch
19-Feb Christchurch
20-Feb Christchurch
21-Feb Christchurch
22-Feb Christchurch to Singapore
23-Feb Ferry to Indonesia - Bintan
26-Feb Indonesia to Singapore to England
27-Feb London Heathrow