We’re off touring the country in our motorhome at present.

Last night we sped off to Miranda and soaked ourselves in the hot pools. There is this great spot in Miranda right on the water called ‘Ray’s Rest’ which is a hideaway for motorhomes that are too cheeky to check into a holiday park (or those like us who prefer freedom camping as it is known). We spent a lovely night on the water’s edge dodging the thunderstorm that passed over, and woke to brilliant sunshine.

Then it was off to Thames for shopping. Thames is the new Melbourne. We shopped till we dropped, and have filled the motorhome up with new clothes and tacky things ready for our jaunt further south into the deep New Zealand winter.

Then we drove through picturesque Te Aroha and admired the buildings and houses, then scurried along quaint back roads past the Wairere Waterfall and onto Rotovegas! We’re now camped at another ‘free camping’ spot right on the edge of Lake Rotorua round at Hamurana. Tomorrow we’re off to the metropolis of Rotorua to play ‘tourist’. Yay!

Te Aroha Domain and Museum

Wairere Falls

We would thoroughly recommend the back road from Te Aroha to Te Poi. No traffic, straight country roads, and great views of the ranges. We must spend more time here on a later jaunt.