We left Rotorua without trying any of the thermal pools there mainly because we had already experienced some in Taupo and decided instead to try out the Luge they have there. It was brilliant fun and Matthew and Emma were able to go down on their own. From there we drove to the coromandel peninsula which is a stunningly beautiful place. Long sandy beaches, lush green vegetation and blue green seas. We stayed in a campsite beside Hot Water Beach and got the tide times for when the tide is at it lowest so we could down with our shovels (along with 100's of others) and dig ourselves a little bath out of sand. 
There is more geothermal activity about 1km under the beach and the sand and water gets so hot as you dig about a foot down steam starts to rise. It's mad to see steam coming out of seawater and not being able to even stand in some parts because the water would burn your feet. It can get up to 60 degrees sometimes.
Later in the day we drove a little up the coast to Cathedral Cove which is a fair walk from the carpark but well worth it. I even chanced a swim when we got there which was my first in the pacific ocean. The following morning Mick rented out snorkel gear and we headed back to Sting Ray Bay where Mick snorkeled (being dive bombed by seagulls) while we looked at enormous sting rays sunbathing in the shallows
We decided then to head back south to Wellington and stayed the night in Tuarangi which was fairly uninteresting but they had a great clinbing wall next door to the backpackers which we all tried this morning. We're back in Wellington now and were greeted by grey skies and the promise of rain and gales over the next few days. It's a bit of a shock to the system after the hot, sunny weather we've had for the past couple of weeks. Ah well, it may help us get into the Christmas spirit.
this last picture is of Mount Ruapehu, NZ's largest ski field.
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