Rocky Road to Rotarua

Gill's notebook:

Cor. - Rotorua. Packed up, dry - lots of clouds. Petrol - no card wallet, back to motel, no luck. Found  later in green travel wallet. Drove to Waihi - picnic. Car bumper caught on wheel stop. Phone Jucy, drove to panel-beaters, quick fix, but need to change car in Wellington. Rotorua, good hotel, easy to find. Walked to Government Gardens and Lake, sulphur smell. Evening, Eat Street - Atticus Finch, good food.

Goodbye Whitianga....it has been.. err...damp...

Today, an improvement - overcast, but empty roads and gorgeous landscapes - very New Zealand...

also, logging trucks with well mannered drivers who pulled over to let traffic overtake.

Lunch stop in Waihi - there is no way the small 'wheel stops' should have removed the front bumper when I reversed.

So, after staring incredulously at the loosened bumper I phoned Jucy car hire helpline to inform them of the minor catastrophe. They directed us to Waihi's very own 'Fergs Panel Shop' which was about 500m away. Still, I took it very steady convinced that the entire front end of the car was about to drop-off  at any moment. After a quick inspection Mr. Ferg and his irascible grey-haired assistant concluded that this in fact was a distinct possibility. The large plastic front bumper was attached to the rest of the bodywork by a few plastic ties, the result of a previous bodged repair. We were a little annoyed by this, but they were incensed. pointing out that most of the high density foam lining in the wheel arches and front end was missing. As well as providing sound insulation it is an important part of the car's 'crumple zone' protecting occupants in the event of a collision. Mr Ferg went to the office to talk to Jucy about the damage. I think he must have made the point that they had supplied us with an unroadworthy vehicle. When we came to swap it at Jucy's Wellington depot there was no mention of the various damage clauses in the hire agreement and they were, though not exactly contrite, but super-helpful and willling to get us back on the road as fast as possible.

On first acquaintance Rotorua is somewhat underwhelming, the outskirts a US style 'mall sprawl'.

The area around the lake and Government Gardens is beautiful however, even in drizzle.

A new development is 'Eat Street' an  area of bars and restaurants designed to be 'all weather' - rain or UV intense shine.

Atticus Finch Restaurant had great reviews on Google - justly so, the roasted cauliflour salad was truly delicious.

More local craft beer - a big thing in New Zealand.

At night Eat Street is illuminated - the neon fluctuates between puce, ultramarine and red - tacky perhaps - but quite jolly.