Waimangu

I got Tot out for her walk and then we all set off for Waimangu another thermal park just south of Rotorua. I have never driven so much down here, usually Jon does all the driving when we go out.

We arrived at the park after an easy drive and surprise, surprise we were just in time for coffee. There were lots of wasps around so we didn't stay for too long in the coffee shop.

The walk through the park is 3.6km and you pass various lakes and thermal pools and streams. When we were last there we saw one lake which was a beautiful bright blue. Today, that same lake was overflowing with boiling water and you could only see steam. I am always in wonder when I go to these places and think about what is under our feet and how it comes to the surface.

We had a nice picnic lunch half way down the park and then carried on to the lake to wait for the boat ride which takes you out onto the lake and into a crater. There was a group of school children on out boat and they were Oz polite and in NZ for 12 days what a school trip, some of them were quite young, too. I got chatting to a young girl and boy and they told me they were from Victoria, near Geelong which is where we went for James flight - small world.

After the boat ride you get taken back up by bus which was just as well as we were not in the mood to walk another 3.6 km.

We drove to the council park in Rotorua which has lots of mud pools and thermal lakes you can walk around.

I was by now very tired and did not fancy the drive home, now I know how Jon feels after a day out.

When I got back I had to take Tot out for her afternoon walk and I did it straight away cos if I had sat down I would not have got up again!

We went across to the Mount tonight for an eat as much as you like Chinese dinner which was very good but Heather and I do not get our monies worth!!

I am feeling really tired now and need a rest.


WEATHER
Bright and sunny but a chilly wind 22 degrees