A quick update - we were on a bus for 10 hours, so pictures are few.
March 27th was a travel day. We made our way by motor coach from Rotorua to Wellington. We are not part of an organized tour group, but we are touring New Zealand according to an itinerary organized by Relaxing Journeys New Zealand based on our specifications for timeframe and lodging. We are nearly half-way through our time in New Zealand!
For the first hour out of Rotorua we were again in the long white cloud from the geothermal steam. We eased out of the fog near an even larger caldera lake than Rotorua called Lake Tuapo. If anything, the geothermal fields are more extensive near Lake Tuapo, but the air was clear because the steam is harnessed to spin turbines and generate electricity. We made a brief picture stop at Huka Falls, 
where, we were told by our driver, more than 220,000 liters per second of Lake Tuapo water pour through a narrow channel near the headwaters of the Waikoto River. The water going over the falls is a beautiful sky-blue color mixing with the usual white froth of turbulent flow. Pure and cold, and showing it, more like the wake of the cruise ship in Hawaii than your average waterfall.
where, we were told by our driver, more than 220,000 liters per second of Lake Tuapo water pour through a narrow channel near the headwaters of the Waikoto River. The water going over the falls is a beautiful sky-blue color mixing with the usual white froth of turbulent flow. Pure and cold, and showing it, more like the wake of the cruise ship in Hawaii than your average waterfall. The landscape around and beyond Lake Tuapo was volcanic hills colored in the dark green of pine forests and the intense green of prime grassland. Another small crossroads staked a claim to corrugated-iron fame with a large gum boot, 
and the annual All New Zealand Championship Gum Boot Throw. Dave our driver observed that you can throw a gum boot anywhere you want, but in that town it is official. We never did catch the name of the town.
and the annual All New Zealand Championship Gum Boot Throw. Dave our driver observed that you can throw a gum boot anywhere you want, but in that town it is official. We never did catch the name of the town.The rest of the ride was along magnificent towering mountains
and then mostly farmland, 
with lots of sheep and cattle grazing in the green fields. It reminded us quite a bit of Ireland, only the hedges to separate the paddocks were neatly trimmed evergreen bushes instead of the stone walls in Ireland.
and then mostly farmland, with lots of sheep and cattle grazing in the green fields. It reminded us quite a bit of Ireland, only the hedges to separate the paddocks were neatly trimmed evergreen bushes instead of the stone walls in Ireland.We got to Wellington around 7:30 pm and stayed in a lovely Hotel close to the harbor.
It was a very industrialized area and we were too pooped to wander to the city center for dinner. We ended up getting room service and called it a night. The next morning we took the ferry to Picton and from there, the TranzCoastal train to Christ Church. More news and pictures to follow.
It was a very industrialized area and we were too pooped to wander to the city center for dinner. We ended up getting room service and called it a night. The next morning we took the ferry to Picton and from there, the TranzCoastal train to Christ Church. More news and pictures to follow. 
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