We broke the drive from Auckland to Rotorua with a stop in Tirau – the self proclaimed corrugated iron capital of New Zealand.

It also had a pleasantly named café.

On arrival in Rotorua, we had a short hike around the lake.

The tree in the picture above is not a palm tree, it is the silver fern. Originally used as a national symbol during the second world war, it has become a national icon.

We stayed in the Jet Park Hotel and, having wimped out of the Auckland Parkrun due to the bad weather, I went for a run around Arawa Park race course.

In the evening we attended a cultural evening at the Tamaki Maori Village (www.tamakimaorivillage.co.nz). I’m not normally a fan of such staged events but this was done very well.

The next day we visited the Wai-O-Tapu thermal park (www.waiotapu.co.nz). We got there early and had the place to ourselves.

We then set off for the Tongarrio National Park and stopped at Haku Falls (hukafalls.com) on the Waiato River near Taupo. The Falls are more like huge rapids and are caused by the Waiato river having to pass through a very narrow deep gulley.

We then walked a up the river for a while.

Finishing at the Spa Park where the water joining the river was ridiculously hot.

After that, back on the road heading towards the great Tongarrio Volcano challenge.