Dave & Margs' Travels

So here we are, Monday, at Waitomo Caves Info Centre, somewhat south of Auckland. We have just been to see some Maggots burning their poo or as the marketing guys like to seel it, we went into a cave of glow worms. Don't really need to tell you much more about what glow worms really are, enough said. We went into the cave and in the light we could see just a few of the glow worms and the silk threads hanging down that they use to catch their food. Further in we got into a boat, turned all lights off and drifted down stream. As we became accustomed to the dark we could see more and more glow worms until the ceiling became like a whole new universe.

Saturday we left Auckland, and en route we stopped in a small town where we saw a Santa parade - like the Hayling Carnival but wishing you a happy Xams. At Hahei Dave and I had a double room which was actually our own little caravan. Excellent. We walked to Cathedral Cove and saw the view and caves etc and then back at base the driver took us to the thermal beach where we could dig in the sand and make ourselves a hot water bath. After much discussion and much disagreement on where to dig, ( some water was too hot and some just cold) we ended up with enough room for about 4 of the 13 or so of us. That is the problem of arriving a little too late on a saturday - the prime spots had gone. Off the beach we could see dolphins swimming. Back at the site the driver cooked a massive bbq where quantity wasn't a problem. We also had new zealand mussels and also pipit (?) shellfish picked up off the beach which were a bit sandy.

Yesterday we moved onto Ragland and spent the afternoon on a very windy black sanded beach in a howling gale (ok not north london tornado style, but very gusty). (By the way did you know the uk has more tornados per land mass than any other country?). dave and I attempted to practise volleyball before the driver took us to see the impresssive 55m Bridal Veil Falls.

thats it for now... off to Rotorua