Rotorua

Have now travelled on the magic bus for the first time. We stopped at a couple of places of interest on the way and had a tour of the town before being dropped off at our various places of accommodation. Of course, the first thing that you are aware of is the smell in Rotorua, the sulphur smell from the many hot pools. Also, beautiful flower gardens throughout the town. Rather overcast on arrival, so went to the cinema and saw a New Zealand film, set in the suburb of Ponsonby outside Auckland. The Insatiable Moon. Ex film. Very modern hostel, situated across from the park with many of the pools. Made friends with couple of people - one from Wales, one from USA. We got together in the evenings to exchange stories from our outings and share wine and nibbles. Fabulous museum set in lovely gardens; lovely lakeside walk to St Faith's church;managed to get to church again as organised by Jane. Picked up at hostel by pastor's wife, and invited back to their house for lunch. Met others there too. Lovely afternoon. Took a flight in a seaplane over the Crater Lakes, and viewed many pools from above- a variety of colours depending on what minerals in them. Superb. Then we landed on Lake Orakei, took a ferry over to a geothermal area where we walked for an hour round a boardwalk viewing a variety of features - mud pools, hot pools, geysers. Back to Rotorua on the plane. Ex way to sightsee, as we flew for 1 hour before landing on Lake Orakei, and flew directly back in about 20mins. Missed viewing of film Skin as last showed on day I arrived. Mentioned my disappointment at the cinema and was given a private showing at no extra expense! Great film about SandraLaing in S.A. born coloured to a white family. Worth seeing. Off to Lake Taupo.