Te Whakarewarewa

Pronounced "fa-ka-re-wa-re-wa" is a thermal reserve and a major Maori cultural centre in Rotorua that Gregz and Nicki said was a "must see" and they were right. Although I've been in NZ for over a year and half now, I haven't actually experienced much of Maori culture, so it was a great opportunity for me to learn more about the Maori people.

Gregor and Nicki have been brilliant hosts; most of the things we've done together they have both done before but they have not minded doing them again to let me get a good feel for the North Island, which I've really appreciated.

I had a wee wander around the thermal park and saw kiwis for the first time; I couldn't believe how big they were! The poor blighters really have no chance in the wild, I mean they have no claws or teeth or even wings to make a quick exit! Apparently they are pretty niffty on their wee legs, but still, I wouldn't fancy their chances!

I saw a very impressive geyser in the thermal park called "Pohutu" (Maori for big splash or explosion), which was spurting water about 20m high when I was there. There was also lots of interesting Maori carvings and a model village that showed you how the Maori people used to live; amazingly Maori's lived in these villiages up until the 1950's, which is not really all that long ago if you think about it.

I was deeply touched by the Maori concert, there is something powerful about seeing men singing and throwing sticks around, whilst still maintaining their masculinity and clearly demonstrating their manliness through doing the haka and other war dances. I also loved listening to the Maori woman doing their singing/wailing thing it always goes right through me.

After Te Whakarewarewa I met up with Gregor and Nicki who had been playing golf and we had lunch before visiting some more steamin lakes and bubbling mud pools, it's very different from the South Island that's for sure.

We took our time driving back to Auckland with ice cream stops and time to read the Sunday papers and have deep and meaningful conversations along the way; I felt that I had had a holiday despite feeling unwell.

On the way back there was a huge sign saying "Warning AUCKLAND within a 100km radius" as we approached the city. What is it with kiwi's and Auckland? If they are not Aucklanders then they seem to hate the place with a passion! Not sure if we have anywhere like that in Scotland?