Update...
Have had Internet connection troubles, but I've got it now.
After our trek on the glacier we headed to Koikura where the mountains meet the sea. Driving through the mountains was somewhat tricky but we managed. I'm doing most of the driving and Ellen has asked me numerous times to slow down on the mountain curves!! On a straightaway it's normally 100km/hr which may be around 63 miles (that's not fast!) While here we did the dolphin tour.
The next day we went to Marlborough Wine Trail and our destination was Blenheim. We stopped and did a wine tasting. Due to restaurants' kitchens closing at 8:00 pm, we were forced to go to the corner take away store for fish and chips. With our Top 10 Holiday Park card, we got a free large bottle of Sprite! Dinner was in our camper. The next morning we did a wine tour of the Montana Winery.
The next morning we drove a full day to Napier. We stopped along the way and did some local meat shopping at the Butchery-- got lamb sausages with mint and some with rosemary. Bought frozen chicken burgers, the up and coming popular food item. Upon arriving in Napier, we were able to do the art deco tour in the afternoon. I have found the place to retire...it is a lovely community. Hard to believe the foresight the people had after reconstructing the city
after the 1931 earthquake. We enjoyed our lamb sausages in a wonderful kitchen/barbecue area and shared our mint jelly with three young folks from London.
Today, the 15th, we sadly left Napier and headed to Rotorua. Our campsite is on Blue Lake. We drove on the Thermal Explorer Highway and the fragrance of sulphur (in some places) is something my daughter would vomit over!
Tonight we are going to a Maori Hangi and concert. The bus will pick us up and hopefully we will learn something of these indigenous people.
I still continue to awed by the scenery. The North Island is different from the South Island.
Here, the mountains are more green due to extensive logging. Still some sheep and cows, and tumunui deer...I believe they are raised for venison--got to check on that.
