Rotorua - Whakatane

Well I'm a bit behind again with the blogg so here goes. We went from Gisborne to Rotorua and as Matthew said where we stayed at the Malfroy Motor Lodge was fantastic. We went through to Whakatane. There had been a couple of cafes recommended and we did The Bean. It changed hands recently and we are in discussion as to including it or not in the book as although the owners are dedicated and lovely their inexperience may mean they are in the next addition (hush my mouth!!). Matthew was thrilled with the waterfall in the middle of town and I am fascinated by standing on the ground of others that have gone before and how that feels. On our way out of town we dropped in to The White House. This sits on the turnoff to Tauranga and is a bit hidden away. You need to make the effort to find this one if you are in the area. Run by Jan and her family the music is great, the outdoor area inviting with couches undercover and a play area at a distance that ensures you can enjoy your coffee and see the kids with calm all around. We were welcomed with genuine hellos and the food was great. There were a group of German guys who the family had temporarily adopted. I think there was some bartiering of time for accomodation, A really good vibe was to be had here and if you need the answer according to Jan to all your woes it is 'run' not away but just get the shoes on and get fit. In my current state of one walk in two months I found the wisdom challenging but very likely right on the mark. Ruby made friends with one of the kids while we were there and it was difficult to leave such a warm place. But we did. Back into Rotorua.