Rogerson's on the Road

Here we are again - we have done quite a lot in the last few weeks so you will have to bear with us if this gets a bit rabbling.

From Auckland we drove south down the Thermal Highway which takes you though the volcanic regions of the central Northlands. We arrrive in Rotarua (also known as Rota-Vagas.....). The first thing that hits you about this place is the smell....it sticks like rotten eggs, kind of strange and you never get used to it!! Rotarua is full of open, steaming pools of water and bubbling mud. A really interesting place to visit if you can stand the stink! It is famed for the thermal pools and as being the adventure capital of the World. Bungy jumping and zorbing were both invented here (for all fo those who dont know what zorbing is, look it up on google, but it involves a big inflatable ball and a hill...) The Rogerson's did not go in for any of the adventure sport stuff - more of a seen that, done that - but we did brave the weather and put in some fantastic walks along the river and into the native forest. Alison also braved it and had a much needed haircut - get this ladies, she went for a $9 doo at the local hairdressing college. It looks fine for a traveller......

Onto Taupo which is right in the heart of the North Island. The town surrounds a huge volcanic lake and is breath taking. We stayed at a great hostel called Rainbow Lodge run by a chap from Paisley - Neil felt he was at home! The weather in Taupo was pretty poor when we arrived but being really quite hardy now, we once again got into the waterproofs and headed out for a long walk. We walked along the river from Huka Falls (which are more like a set of massive rapids) to Articia Dam, which is a manmade dam for the hydro-elecrtic power station. I know it sounds dull but we were there at 2pm when they opened the dam and it really is very dramatic. You stand on a bridge with about 100 other travllers and watch this thing open - it really takes your breath away (sad the things that amuse you). Our second day on Taupo was the bluest brightest day we have had in NZ and we managed to do a fantastic walk around some on Lake Taupo. You pass some of the most stunning houses and some really strange beaches - due to the volcanic activity in the area some of the beaches have hot water and the sand steams......

From Taupo we headed to Napier in Hawkes Bay which is a famous wine region. The drive to Napier is like driving thought a Lord of the Rings film - breath taking. Napier is the most beautiful town and all the buildings are in the Art Deco style - here we got cultural and did a guided art deco walking tour - sounds very middle aged, I know......Neil is now a budding historian, specialising the Art Deco Architecture, what he cant tell you about post modenistic design is not worth knowing. Here we met Bertie - who is in the Lonely Planet - a guy from Yorkshire who lives in Napier and lives in the 1930's - you had to be there. With all this culture we had to bring ourselves back into our world and did a pub quiz. $3 double Jim Beams and $3 beers makes it all the more attractive (the deals you get being backpacker is like being back at uni). So the Rogerson's On Tour team came forth in a foreign pub quiz, not too shabby for a team of two ( missing out, however on the third prize $20 bar tab, with drinks only costing $3 a time, it was probably for the best). Just a short drive from Napier is the town of Hastings, not much of a town but it has Te Mata Peak. Take a look at the photos - words cant describe it.