What's That Glowing In The Dark?

ROTORUA. 5 NOVEMBER 2024

Guy Fawkes Night is also celebrated in New Zealand. There are numerous pop-up firework sales pitches from the back of vans and bonfires assembled.

Paul takes a phone call from the UK at 3:30, this morning. The pensions provider needs authority to make a payment to the local council for the rates. No rest for the wicked. It takes an hour to get back to sleep.

We're on the road by 9:45. The landscape is one of wide "U" shaped valleys and fir tree encrusted hills. The car is a delight to drive, the speed limit and current speed is projected on to the windscreen.

We stop for coffees in Ohaupo. The cafe is inside an antiques shop. Rosie discovers a cream bakelite phone that she's been looking for for over 25 years'.

Naturally, we need a toilet stop along the road. Every village has at least one, always clean and well stocked. The one in Otorohanga has many different vernacular words for the Gents and different ones for the Ladies!

This morning Rosie booked tickets for the glow worm caves. There are 20 in our group. The guide is a Maori and is an entertaining mix of knowledge and humour. The glow worms are amazing, we see them several times es including on the boat trip at the end. They can only be found in NZ, Australia and Alabama, so we're very lucky to see them.

The campsite is on the outskirts of Rotorua. The receptionist is very helpful, the site clean and quiet. The unfortunate thing is we have to walk to the shared toilet block. We pick up a pizza and enjoy a glass or two of Sauvignon Blanc before retiring.