Today you are going to learn something about Auckland!!

--largest city in the world in area, Brisbane is second

--population only 1.5 million

-- very few condos, town houses, etc and there is lots of land so mostly single family dwellings which are usually modest.

--average house price is $750,000 (our $ is par at the moment). The house across the street from Danny and Margaret's just sold for that price and is only 2 bedrooms on a tiny lot. Their house has 4 bedrooms, living room, sitting room, dining room plus garage, patio, nice garden. Danny figures he would get over a million if he sold it now. No basements, no central heating

-- minimum wage about $13.50 (our guide says that's all many people get). He says many singles have to share renting a house as they just can't afford it on their own.

Today we travelled south through the Waiukato River Valley. Lots of farmland and grazing sheep and cattle. Rolling hills. The W River has many dams on it for hydro power. It's the longest river in NZ and flows from Lake Taupo to the west. It used to go to the east until one of those "events" took place and it changed course. Lots of evidence of ash from previous volcanoes. NZ is still a very active earthquake/volcano zone.

Most of NZ's power is from hydro dams. The rest comes from geothermal, wind plus a coal powered "back-up system" which isn't used much.

Our trip today took us to the Waitomo Glowworm Caves which we had been to 18 years ago. Good to see again and to refresh our memory about those little critters. We did the walking part plus got into a boat to float silently right into the dark cave to have a really good look at them.

Lunch was at a farm. I had fresh leg of lamb plus the usual salads then dessert was local ice cream with a fruit sauce. Lovely spot.

We got into Rotorua about 5:30 so had some down time before supper. The bad thing about a big group is the time it takes for the food to come out. Dinner started at 7 and ended close to 10. Lovely food with wonderful presentation but we don't like eating so late.