insides of our earth when you see something like this - it is the most incredible natural thing I have ever seen, just totally amazing but ever so smelly!!! - Hel) The trail ended at a large lake, which had steam rising around it’s shores that gave away its still active nature. In the distance the distinctive cone shape of another volcano could be seen, along with a single cooling tower from a geothermal power station - now that really is energy for free - nice one Kiwis!! We had been well impressed by the thermal wonderland, even if the geyser wasn’t quite so enthralling!! All that was left to do was to buy some thermal mud based beauty products for Hel, (ok, ok, I use them too!! J), and then check out the last attraction, a huge bubbling mud pool. This was a mesmerising place, with the activity ranging from really gentle plopping bubbles to huge violent gloops which shot boiling water and mud a few meters up into the air! That marked the end of our Thermal adventure, and as it was still before lunch we

headed off in the direction of Napier, our next destination.

We passed through Taupo, famous for the three snow capped volcanoes which can be seen reflected in the still waters of the lake there. Well, that’s what all the brochures said, all we saw was low cloud and choppy waters from the ever present stiff breeze! Still, we need to pass this way again on the way back to Auckland, so fingers crossed for then, when they should have more snow on anyway!!! We had to climb over the Kawaka range to get to Napier, and we decided to check out a free DOC campsite in the mountains to break the journey. It turned out to be one of our favourite places so far!! There was nothing there but a field in the middle of gorgeous Scotland / Wales type mountain scenery next to a river, one compost toilet, one horse and us!! Seriously remote, but it was lovely falling asleep to the sound of the rushing waters of