This morning I walked around the lake side path of Lake Rotarua. No tourists, all free, no tour buses, just wild bubbling water and mud and sqwaking birds.

Im visited an old Maori church built in the 1800's today as well.

I also visited the public park over on the other site of town from the lakeside and sat with my feet in their thermal pools. It was my last photo of the day and this is the one on the home page. It symbolizes everthing good about this trip.

I have gone to the Polynesian spa both days in Taupo. On day 2 I met Vern and Shirley from Taupo and I got more of the scoop on this town that is on the top of this country. I still want to return here to Taupo.

Its back to Auckland tomorrow and then home.

The ship in Gisborne is now leaking oil and its the biggest oil spill in New Zealand's history.

• swans on Lake Rotarua soaking their feet and getting fed by Japanese tourists
• this is in the backyard of a home, people use the thermal heat for their purposes - you see chimneys steaming
• real steam, real boiling water - thermal activity
• bubbling thermal mud
• this it a scene of the public park. There are these steaming lakes everywhere
• this is the front of the old Maori church -built in the 1800's -they really took to christianity and went to war judging by the gravestones.
• no explanation required.