Days 2 and 3

We have been hunting for internet use- not as common here as we thought it would be...
We can’t believe how many different adventures we have experienced in less than two days. A highlight we were looking forward to was the Black Water Tubing in the Waitomo Caves. Although the waters were VERY cold we grit our teeth and jumped right in. Hearing the roar of a waterfall ahead caused each of us a bit of anxiety knowing we had to jump off backwards with our tube and there was no going back!! I must say that mom did a tremendous job navigating through the black waters, which were in fact black. Most of the time underground we weren’t allowed to turn our lights on, but had to find our way over the rocky, uneven cave floor by looking up at the glowworms on the ceiling of the cave. Once we survived the exhilarating experience we enjoyed soup and bagels with our new found friends.

Our next stop took us to the Newman Stud farm just miles away in “The Shire” (literally where it was filmed). To our delight the granddaughters were visiting, Alexandra, 2 & Georgia, 4. It was so fun to hear them speaking with their accents and listening to them talk about their dollies Hazel and Hannah. I was able to help them eat their super, so that they could have ice cream!!! Our hostess, Jean, constantly served us tea, buns, biscuits, and a wonderful lamb dinner; everything was home grown, including the lamb. In the morning we enjoyed a tour of the farm on the back of a four wheeler with Farmer Philip. He is a world renowned race horse breeder. He told us many stories of his travels to different countries selling his horses; including staying in the palace of a Sheik of Dubai. We loved being surrounded by the young foals that followed us throughout the pastures.

We finally arrived tonight at the foot of Mt. Ruapehu at the Chateau Tongariro, a beautiful lodge that looks like a manor. We took a hike through heather covered hillsides and forested creek side pathways. A spectacular sunset turned the hillsides red!! Tonight we dine in elegant splendor and take tea by fireside.

Every day is a surprise because we know what the next destination is, but not how to get there or what it will be like!!!