Day 11 - Paihia to Auckland

Up early to try and avoid the traffic, stopped for a coffee and then on the road around 0830. Drove back the same way as yesterday but this time the traffic was coming from Auckland and our side was pretty light. We drove through fog which looked nice in the valleys and on the hills but made the going slow.
We made good time but it still took about 3 hours. Dropped the bags off at the same motel as before then took the car back. Wandered around the city for a bit then stopped for lunch at the oldest pub in Auckland (apparently) where we both had fish and chips and I had a beer. The weather was sunny and warm. There wasn't much to do in the city so we took a ferry to Devonport, a small suburb with some quaint shops and cafes. Spent about an hour there, stopped for a strawberry smoothie then back on the ferry to Auckland. We went to get a bus back to the motel but the public transport was rubbish - the bus stops didn't have the bus numbers on them but a list of destinations with the number of the stop. We walked to the bus stop but there was no timetable. So we walked the 30 minutes up the hill.
Checked into the room and watched tv, and booked a pick up to the airport for the morning.
So that's our New Zealand trup. South Island was spectacular, the mountains and lakes incredible. The North Island wasn't as rugged but the rolling hills and valleys were nice.
Next year is back to Europe.

Day 10 - Auckland to Paihia

Up at 0800, stop for a coffee and a walk, the weather was Sunny and about 25 c, then on the road for the 2.5 hour drive to Paihia. 4 hours later we pulled into the motel. It seemed every one in New Zealand was on the same road as us. We'd drive for a while doing 100 then suddenly hit a queue of traffic crawling along or completely stopped. One 2km stretch took 30 minutes. The scenery was hills and valleys with some lake and sea views. We stopped for a coffee and sandwich on the way in a town that was basically closed because it was Good Friday.
Paihia was busy, all the motels (virtually every place on the beach was a motel) had 'No vacancy' signs. The beach was nice and the bay had some small islands in it. The place is called 'Bay of Islands', apparently there are about 140 in all.
It was too early to check in so we went for a walk along the beach. The place was really busy but quite small.
We had an early dinner at a place called Only Seafood. I had King Prawns in a garlic and chilli creamy sauce and a glass of Chardonnay. Song had a seafood platter. We also had dessert for the first time ; I had sticky date pudding with toffee and caramel sauce, Song had pavlova with berries. The meal was very good.
Walked back to the motel and watched tv. Drive back to Auckland tomorrow.

Day 9 - Rotorua to Auckland

Woke up around 08:00 to a miserable day,  grey and cloudy, but since we were leaving it wasn't a big deal. Had breakfast of toast and cereal then hit the road. 2 minutes later did a u turn to go the correct way. The drive was wet for most of the trip but varied between rain and sun. We stopped for a coffee and Song bought some fruit, then back on the road. Saw a sign for a beach and despite the weather trying to decide whether to rain or be sunny went to have a look. The weather made it look quite spectacular so I took some photos.
Carried on, then hit traffic outside of Auckland despite finding the first dual carriage way of our trip. Got off at the right exit but managed to miss the turning so had to drive around a bit before we found the motel. I think they should call Auckland the city of traffic lights.
The receptionist said a load of people had checked out so we were upgraded to a suite which had a big tv, a lounge and a spa.
Settled in and then went into town to visit the Air New Zealand office to try and get a refund again, which we did. Yay for us.
We decided to walk to a restaurant from Tripadvisor, number 2 in Auckland, about 40 minutes away. Walked around the park, then across a road, then along another road into the main part of the city. It was a bit muggy and sticky, and we carried on walking, up a steep hill. Then across more roads, up some hills, 50 minutes later and still going. Across some roads and finally saw the restaurant after an hour. I asked for a table for 2 - "Do you have a booking?" "No". "Sorry, we're full." "Ok, thanks."
Luckily there were lots of restaurants around, and Song chose a Japanese place. I had a beef teriyaki bento and Song had a Sashimi bento. It was really good, so the evening wasn't completely ruined.
Decided we'd done enough walking so got a cab back to the motel.
Driving to Pahia and the Bay of Islands tomorrow.

Day 8 - Taupo to Rotorua

Another lie in, up at 0830, then pack up. Over the road for a coffee and a stop at the airport to claim the refund for the cancelled flight. The airport was the smallest I've ever seen, the cafe was bigger than the check in area, and the staff were nowhere to be seen, just a sign saying that the desk was unattended. Duh.
Left Taupo and drove to Rotorua, the weather was perfect and the drive pleasant - rolling hills and valleys. The roads here are very empty - only one or two cafes and no petrol stations at all for the entire journey - I saw a place that had a sign for emergency petrol. The drive took a couple of hours and we're building up a decent insect collection on the front of the car. We found the motel easily enough but were a bit early to check in so drove into the town centre to look around. 5 minutes later we'd seen it all so drove out to a couple of lakes - the Green Lake and the Blue Lake. These are next to each other but different colours (see if you can guess) due to the different beds. We stood on a hill between them and I took a panoramic photo that I've uploaded. We were the only people there for a while - the same thing happened at the Huka Falls - and had it all to ourselves.
Jumped back into the car and headed back to the town, stopping at the Redwood Forest on the way. If you've seen trees before you get the basic idea.
Drove to the spa to book a soak, found out we didn't need to, then walked around the Government Gardens. The whole town smells of sulphur and this area was the worst because it's next to the lake. There are plumes of steam and bubbling pools dotted around. Checked into the motel and relaxed for a while before going out for dinner. There were lots of the usual places - pizza, Chinese, Indian, but we picked a tapas place from Tripadvisor. It was in a precinct called Eat Street which sounds naff but was actually really well done, and busy. We noticed on the way back the 'traditional'  places were all empty.
We shared some plates - potato croquettes with chorizo, salmon sliders (mini burgers), slow cooked lamb, and a beetroot and fennel salad with goats cheese. I thought it was very good, Song thought it was nice. I also had a beer, a porter, which is a dark ale.
Drove down to the spa and got a private deluxe pool which overlooked the lake. It sounds expensive but was $27 less a 10% voucher from the motel. The water was about 39C, not too hot, and very relaxing. We sat there up to our necks in the hot water looking out over Lake, it was uncovered and the moon was out. We had to stand up every so often because it got a bit much, but it was very enjoyable. We had 30 minutes which was plenty. Had a shower and sat in the cafe to wind down while Song put a dent in the credit card in the gift shop to buy mud. Yes, mud. Apparently it's good for the skin or something. Mud. That wet dirt stuff.
Back to the motel, watched tv then sleep.
Off to Auckland tomorrow.