An exhausting week in Rotorua came next.

Deb and Matt went Zorbing	Below:  In case you didn't know - Rotorua stinks !!
Daniel gets the bird		Deb and Hannah can't let sleeping lions lie!

Above: A Kea         Below: Moreporks, at last, a face to the voice !

	One for Two Hoots
	Above left; Deb with a New Zealand Falcon That helmet is just not my colour but the luge is a lot of fun
	South of Taupo Mount Ngauruhoe on the left, and right the Chateau Tongariru and Mount Ruapehu.  Yes, that is snow! Below: the Tawahi Falls, pumice floating in the river and I think these must be snow machines behind the red tractor? There's an excellent road to Whakapapa Village and a ski lift onwards and upwards from there.

We visited friends in Masterton.  We've never been to the south-east corner of North Island before.  The weather was beautiful and Les and Carol made us very welcome.  Les drove us out to Castlepoint.  Being driven is a rare treat. The amazing tractor is on the beach at Castlepoint and used to launch the huge jet boats Below, sheep on the road, and ... with apologies for quality, 4 people and 3 dogs on a quad bike.  (As you can imagine, I'm gutted about the poor quality pic)
		Home of the Lost Soles
South Island		The road from Picton to Havelock was in a big mess from recent slips so no pics. If you are planning to drive this fabulous route it's best done from Havelock to Picton, it's much safer to pull over that way.
Christchurch is still rocking, so they say.  There are still up to 6 aftershocks every day.  We didn't feel a thing and the only thing that wobbled was our table at lunch !
		Counting down to the Rugby World Cup

Update: 22nd February 2011.  Our good wishes for everyone in Christchurch today.  We felt the quake in Wanaka.  Lives have been lost, lots of damage including the cathedral in the pic above which has been badly damaged.   (Photos above taken on 15 Feb 2011)

new page Christchurch

Further south, we stayed at one of the  NZMCA   POPs, like UK Caravan Club CLs This one at Fairlie cost $5 and included the chook-berries The cafe below is at the observatory at Lake Tekapo
	We come to New Zealand to escape the English cold and icy weather. Yes, we are mad but I'm using a long lens here.  It's much warmer at ground level. Everyone seems to be walking, biking, climbing etc, etc New Zealanders are not good at sitting around! Below: Left arrow points to the climber in pic 2, yes he is there ... this is huge country and this is the only way I can think of to show the scale of it all

Contrasts:  The tough and the fluffy !