New Zealand - The North Island

Today we moved on from the North Island, and headed south (although it's odd to think that the South will be colder than the north - that's just the wrong way round), so here's a round up of the last few days...

Day 18 - Mount Maunganui, Tauranga
A 30 min run at sunset.

Day 19 - Lake Tarawera, Rotorua
Biggest run in a long time today, along the Tarawera Trail - 10 miles from Te Wairoa to Hot Water Beach, and 10 miles back. Felt good to run that far again, all along hilly trails. But it felt a strangely eerie place, the wind making whispering noises through the trees, and a claustrophobic feeling running through narrow tracks through the forest, like someone was watching. It was a feeling I couldn't shake off the whole run, especially when we got to the deserted Hot Water Beach campsite, and later on when the clouds closed in and torrential rain hammered down. Still, I'm sure it was just me being daft, and apart from that the work out was good, and the views fantastic.

Stayed in Rotorua, which smelled of rotten eggs, in a cold dark windowless basement room.  I lay awake in the dark, listening to our wet running stuff dripping around us in the cold air, and wondering if I was asleep having a nightmare, or it if was real.
 
Day 20 - Lake Taupo

After a fitful night of nightmares, I woke up early, and jumped out of bed, with that relief that comes after a terrible nights sleep. As we drove away from Rotorua, the smell of rotten eggs faded. But I can't turn my nose up at it too much. It only smells because of all the amazing activity that's going on beneath our very feet, that because of the fault lines here, you are able to observe. And whif. On our journey away we stopped at hot bubbling mud pools...

And Craters of the Moon...

Found some more mud. Much mud...

And then arrived in Lake Taupo, where we did a short run along the path by the lake in the fresh air. The water on the edge of the lake was hot, and steam rose into the clear air, giving it the feeling of a huge bath tub in the mountains.

Amazing sunset!

Day 21 - Lake Taupo
The next day we ran along Lake Taupo again for a couple of hours, taking in sights, and trying to work out how far it was....

Day 22 - Lake Taupo
On our last day in Lake Taupo we did a 30 min run along the lake in the other direction, towards the harbour. It was freezing in the early morning, but beautiful watching a new day dawn over the lake. Saw a water plane take off and land from the water. 

We visited the Huka Falls as we left. Wow!

From Taupo we headed across to Napier on the coast. It was destroyed completely in 1931 by a earthquake, and rebuilt quickly, so it's mostly in Art Deco style, and is a sight to behold. As well as that, it's also a big wine producing region, and we spent a few happy hours cycling along country trails to the Mission Vineyard and sampling wine. 

The cycle back was super easy.

Day 23 - Wellington
We drove all the way down to Wellington. Feeling a bit underdressed as I hadn't brought wellies, we donned trainers, we headed out for an hour's blast up and down Mount Wellington. Great views from up there. 

And for the first time since the 100 I managed to run the whole way up a big hill without walking. Process may be slow, but at least It's progress!