http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Biffa-and-Bex/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Biffa and Bex en-us Sun, 20 Dec 2009 03:29:05 +0000 Sun, 20 Dec 2009 03:29:05 +0000 Only had a short flight from San Fran but we were both feeling a bit dazed and confused by the time we got to Vegas. Its a bit bizarre to be greeted by gambling machines before you have even made it through customs The shuttle bus took us around quite a few of the hotels so we got to see a good bit of the strip before we made it to our hotel.The place we were staying in was called The Orleans a http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Nevada/Las-Vegas/blog-122385.html Trip back to San Francisco was fairly easy and we dropped Jason back at the airport to make his way back to UK.Sarah Dave Mark Beckie and myself then stayed in San Fran for a few more days to take in the sights of the city. We stayed in The Opal hotel on Van Ness. Good value place and you get breakfast thrown in. Its near some good transport links so is a pretty good bet for the cost consciou http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/San-Francisco/blog-122366.html We arrived in San Francisco to be met by Jason Sarah and Dave who had flown out from the UK. It was great to meet some people we knew and have some friendly faces. We picked up our 10 seater Ford gasguzzler also lovingly known as the 'Fun Bus' and made the three hour journey from San Fran to Heavenly. Luckily most of the snow had been cleared and it was not too icy the last part of the jour http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/blog-122339.html Bit of a monster flight from Rarotonga we touched down in Tahiti for an hour or so about 2am. Tried to buy a post card to send to Macie Pauls Niece but they only sold them in packs of 10 and we did not have any proper currency so it was all a bit much at that time in the morning. Finally got to LAX about 1pm and then the shuttle bus seemed to keep driving around all the terminals until it had http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Los-Angeles/Hollywood/blog-122267.html The flight back to Raro from Aitutaki was on the really small island hopping plane although it was really packed out this time but the flight was easy and smooth. The weather was much better so there was chance to see the Aitutaki lagoon and island as we departed which let us see what we had been exploring for the last week or so.As we were on a domestic flight Vara's the backpacker hostel http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Rarotonga/blog-122197.html Got our transfer from the backpackers to the domestic terminal in plenty of time to check in before the flight. The airport is tiny you can see the luggage being wheeled out past us to the plane. One of the staff was even riding a bike onto the runway to load onto the plane and part of the luggage it looked like a xmas present for someone. The atmosphere is really relaxed and very easy here. B http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/blog-121420.html Landed at Rarotonga OK after passing over the international date line yup just regained a day on a 3 hour flight its mindbending. Both feeling a little tired after the flight 3am is never a good time to arrive somewhere Were greeted by Jake on the ukulele who welcomes all the flights in it's a bit surreal at that time in the morning. The place is small so the luggage came through OK but http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Rarotonga/blog-121417.html Today is the final day with the car so we are heading to Auckland and will stay in the city tonight. We were advised by the campsite owners to drive around the coast as its a better drive. Set off about 10am to get there in plenty of time unfortunately the free map did not have too much detail of the peninsular so we ended up a little lost Managed to make it up to Auckland in the end its much http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Auckland/blog-120785.html We are heading up the coast to HaHei but before this we went for a run to stretch the legs. Ran along the beach towards the beach towards the mount. Before having a bit of an argument involving water stomping off and a few temper tantrums good to see that on a world trip there is still a bit of space for childish behaviourAfter packing up the car set off up the coast lots of cars boats and http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Hahei/blog-120780.html Slept very well and woke up feeling very rested and refreshed. It took us a while to pack up as we have been here for a few days now and more and more things have been brought in from the car. A few people along the way have recommended Mt Manganui for a visit it's a small costal town on the Western Bay of Plenty which is supposed to be NZ's best surf city complete with an artificial reef for b http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Bay-of-Plenty/Mount-Maunganui/blog-120775.html Today we are moving onto Rotorua along the thermal highway. There is a geyser which spouts water at 10.15am with a little help from a guide and some Organic soap its bound to be a tourist trap but well you kinda have to We got packed up and everything dried out and got on the road in plenty of time which was novel Arrived at the Waiotapu Thermal wonderland with plenty of time to spare so gr http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Rotorua/blog-120771.html Had an OK nights sleep but both feeling a little tired after yesterdays walk. We drove down to Acacia Bay a beautiful little suburb full of expensive houses and swish boats. Spent a little while watching a cute black swan feeding in the lake upside down with its bum in the air real amusing Wandered down to town to check out the information centre grabbed a coffee and then went to 'the craters http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Taupo/blog-120768.html Up at 6am which was a bit of a struggle after a heavy nights sleep inside Managed to get going eventually as we are booked onto the 7am bus to get to the start of the Tongariro crossing. We raced onto the bus at the last minute before it left Beck was full of glee at the excitement of it all and Paul a bit stressed as he thought we were going to miss it. A lesson in there for the futureTook http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Tongariro-National-Park/blog-120767.html Both slept really well although after too much alchohol it was more of a coma Got up and got dressed for a run but it was really chucking it down. Its only 1 degree warmer than home but its winter there and summer here boo We got packed up and got some supplies from town before another trip to the excellent Freyberg pool to try and get rid of the shabby feeling. Both felt better after a few http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wanganui/blog-120764.html Up early to get the ferry to Wellington a 4am start which was not welcome Made it for the 'last check in' at 445 to then sit in the cold for an hour and a half before we boarded at 615 mmmm.....Ferry crossing was great nice and calm and we had great views leaving Picton lots of low cloud small coves and windswept hills. Had to stop taking photos in the end as we had too many pics Arrived http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington/blog-120761.html It rained fairly heavily during the night and was still raining in the morning so the tent was soaked through. Cleared it out and packed the car up just hope we can get the tent dried out before too long otherwise everything is going to smell like a wet dog After a quick breakfast we headed down the coast to Matueka before following the coast road round to Nelson. We found a suitable swimming p http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Picton/blog-120759.html Our final point of call for the day was the tiny village of Marahou. We have booked ourselves onto a seals and lagoons kayaking day trip tomorrow and the company we are with has a camp site and hostel to stay at. Should hopefully make it a bit easier tomorrow as we need to meet them at 8am The weather does seem warmer here and we have got out the shorts and Tshirts for the first time since arr http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Abel-Tasman-National-Park/blog-120755.html Spent the main part of the day driving the 300kms to Westport along the winding mountainous costal roads of Highway No 6 The scenery along the way was breathtaking and we stopped along the way to take lots of photos. The hedgrows are full of ferns and flax and looks very tropical however the weather is anything but. Its grey overcast and a bit chilly right now. Hopefully it will get warmer as http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Abel-Tasman-National-Park/blog-112186.html Got up at 7am and afti er some breakfast headed to our next port of call Wanaka. It's supposed to be similar to Queenstown with lots of adrenalin activities but smaller less busy and a bit cheaper. Much to Beckies delight the town used to be called Pembroke her original home town for the uninformed until the 20th Century when they decided to call it Wanaka instead what were they thinking http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Franz-Josef/blog-112183.html Slept really well but awoke too early at 530am. We are booked on a kayaking trip at Milford which is a two hire drive down the road. After a quick breakfast shower and making sarnies trying hard not to wake the rest of the house we set off about 630am. The cloud was initially high and the view of the snow capped mountains was captivating. The drive to Milford is on a twisting road which has http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Milford-Sound/blog-111281.html