Pihi is one of the closest beaches to the house and the one we went to most of the time.Its where i attempted to surf, but also spent a few days out swimming in the 'blue pool', chiiling out on the beach or watching the surf comps held there. Had a few meals at the life savers club (which i almost got thrown out of because i wasnt wearing a top that covered my shoulders), had a few BBQ at Neil and Paulas friends Mark and Gill or at Paul and Kirstens. One good day in piha was spent at Neils [View Full Entry]

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When I got to New Zealand Neil was looking at getting a boat with his mate Mark. After looking around a few second hand ones the drafted in another buyer, Neils mate John, they bought a new fishing boat!! Went out around Auckland harbour and out to a few islands in the Hauraki Gulf. Took a few day trips out to islands and went sea biscuiting, fishing and wakeboarding. [View Full Entry]

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Before I got to New Zealand the plan was to get a job at the Hardware café but Neil and Paula mentioned Toby Restaurant around the corner that I hadn’t seen last time I was here. Handed my CV to both and the Hardware had enough staff but Tobys had just opened again after being closed down for serving minors!! Went for a trial there and met the staff and a few locals then got called into to talk about shifts with Jeanette (the owner). Supposed to start the week after but she rang me the next day to ask if [View Full Entry]

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Went to tawharanui with my family for a weekend away at the neighbours bach (holiday home). Sat out on the deck having dinner then played tennis but it was too hot. Went to Omaha beach for a surf then set off for Goat Island, a marine reserve where you can go diving, snorkelling or on the glass bottom boat. Looked really choppy from the carpark so as we had all been there before we left. Me Neil and Joe went off for another surf and played rugby on the beach then met the others back at the house for a BBQ. [View Full Entry]

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About 10 minutes walk away from the house is Titirangi village. It has the usual supermarket, dairy, chemist library etc. The Hardware café is a popular place throughout the day and night and also Tobys Restaurant where I worked behind the bar. I went to the village during the day to get some lunch or have a drink at the hardware, occasionally at night to have a few beers with Neil and his mate Peej and obviously go to work or have a drink at Tobys. [View Full Entry]

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The flight from Fiji was fine and once I finally got through customs was met by Paula and Ella (my auntie and cousin)We drove back to their house and I put all my things in my room. Met Annie, Joe and Neil when they all got back from school (my other two cousins and uncle) and stayed in with some champagne. [View Full Entry]

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Stayed in the pool and the dorm most of the day as I had a heat rash on my arms. Met a guy called Geoff who was on the bus before I went to Beachcomber. Had a few beers with him and a guy he met on a surfing trip he had just been on Chris. He was from cornwall and was leaving on the same flight I was to Auckland at 5am the next morning so we promised to get the other up if he wasnt awake. Everybody in the hostel seemed to join our table so it got quite [View Full Entry]

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Up early at Nadi Bay to pack my bags and go for a swim before the Beachcomber bus picked me up. Said goodbye to Danyel and jumped on the bus with Brett. Only took a small bag with some clothes, camera etc and left my rucksac in storage at the hostel. (will be back here after Beachcomber before i leave for New Zealand. Drove through all the posh resorts and picked more people up then arrived at the jetty. Got on the boat for beachcomber and went passed all the islands in the Mamanuca group ranging from huge forest filled islands [View Full Entry]

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Woke up and went for a walk to the top of the island. It was huge compared to the other islands i went to. Full of secluded beaches and rock pools. Checked out and jumped on the boat to take us back to the mainland. Got on the bus and headed for Lautoka town. I had packed all my shoes in my bag which was now under the bus so once we had stopped I went to get some cheap sandals with Danyel. We didnt realise the rest of the group had set off to the restaurant so when we got [View Full Entry]

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Got up early and set off for a traditional fijian village. Everybody put on their sulus and t shirts. Monica the guide I had on the first day before Robinson Crusoe Island had said men dont have to cover their shoulders as the women do. The guide now however said men have to cover their shoulders so I had to put on one of Eddie the driver's flowery shirts on which was twice as big as me! We had a cava ceremony and the kids sang songs for us then we headed to the river to go bili-bili rafting. The raft [View Full Entry]

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