http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Olliep/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Olliep en-us Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:51:57 BST Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:51:57 BST Our names are Mark Ollie and Dale and this is to be the longest day of our lives........full entry to follow http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Fiji/blog-328321.html It was an emotional goodbye. We could have easily stayed in Mana Lagoon for longer but we only had one day before our flight and we were also out of booze. After breakfast we checked out and waited for our boat to arrive. We had the goodbye song sung to us and then began the numerous goodbyes and email swaps At 11.30 the boat arrived and 16 of us boarded. It was a tight squeeze and as the back wa http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Fiji/Viti-Levu/Nadi/blog-328317.html Today was mostly hangover but this was helped by a quick dip in the sea. The cool clear water was an excellent solution to the throbbing head. We managed some breakfast and then sat around chatting and attempting to fill in the details from the night before. At 11.30am we said our good byes to the people who were leaving and welcomed in the next visitors. The day was very chilled and we just hung http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Fiji/Mamanuca-Islands/Mana-Island/blog-328310.html We were all pretty excited as we had heard nothing but good things about Mana Island and we were ready for some serious beach time and rum consumption After our breakfast we made a quick booze trip to the supermarket and stocked up for the next few days. We decided to travel light and left our big bags behind and took a minibus to the coast. After paying for our trip and boat we boarded the rathe http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Fiji/Mamanuca-Islands/Mana-Island/blog-328307.html After a good nights sleep we cooked a big breakfast and sausage beans scrambled eggs and toast which went down exceedingly well especially after the few beers from the night before As usual we were on the road by 10am and heading along the northern coast to Tauranga. We then headed inland towards Hamilton but it was raining so we only stopped briefly for money and fuel. Mark then realised he h http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Raglan/blog-328297.html Nadi was literally one long road and after our complimentary breakfast we headed out for a walk. We headed towards the beach and after a few too many kilometres in the heat we arrived at McDondalds and since it was before 10.30am we enjoyed a second breakfast From there we continued on in the heat with the constant Bula being shouted at us This is the Fijian word for hello and people were even http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/Fiji/Nadi/blog-328293.html Unfortunately we had to check out by 10am but this was now a fairly standard practice. After showers and a final pack we stuffed our bags into as few lockers as possible anything to save a couple of dollars. We then headed for the southern hemispheres world famous breakfast of sausage and egg mcmuffins.The remainder of our time was then spent in an internet cafe catching up on world news and a http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Auckland/blog-328291.html So much for taking it easy The remaining drifters came home around 8.30am and needless to say went straight to bed. For Mark bed was the only option and whilst Ollie and Dale went out for food and to explore Auckland he remained there until 3pm. In the afternoon we went out to explore the cultural aspects of Auckland however we ended up in McDonalds and then the cinema. Once the film had finish http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Auckland/blog-328289.html We finally had a layin. Dale and Ollie I mean Mark was already up for his standard morning stroll followed by a heavy dose of NZ TV. After a very healthy breakfast of creamed rice and bannanas we made very light work of cleaning our 'spaceship' because we didn't and Ollie took the helm and pointed it toward Auckland. This would be our last journey in the car After a relatively event free dri http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/blog-325454.html Luckily we did not go overboard after the skydive in the same way as after the bungy Anywaywe were up as usual fed and checked out by 10am. From Taupo we drove 7km south the base of Mount Tauhara. From then on the next few hours were spent scrambling and traversing up the mountain across fields and through woodland. The sweaty walk was worth it in the end as we ended up with some fantastic vie http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Taupo/blog-324153.html Today we jumped out of a perfectly good aeroplane...and paid for itWe woke up feeling pretty normal and ate breakfast before heading to the airfield in our Limousine. Along with three other people we were harnessed up and waited around for the other three to jump first. After the bungy jumping Ollie was feeling much better and as we relaxed and waited for our turn everyone was quite calm.When the http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Taupo/blog-324128.html Since the kitchen in the hostel was closed for renovation we took advantage of the complimentary breakfast eggs on toast in the bistro downstairs. Once again we had a large drive ahead of us and set off around 9.30am. We drove almost continuously until we reached a little town called Waiouru. Coincidentally this small town was also home to a Subway and we stopped for lunch. Suboftheday M http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Taupo/blog-323716.html As we had to catch the ferry at 10am we were all up relatively early. Feeling proud of our early morning organisation we got to the ferry port 15 minutes early only to be told that the ferry was running 40 minutes late. Not wanting to sit in a queue waiting for the ferry we headed back into town to a bakery 4th Best in New Zealand 2006 for some cake and coffee. When we returned to the fer http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/Wellington/blog-323715.html We got up much earlier than usual and suprised ourselves when we were on the road by 8.30am. Deciding not to stop anywhere on the way we arrived in Kaikarou on the east coast by lunchtime. We stopped for lunch at a seal lookout point and it wasn't until after the first sausage sandwich that we noticed a seal only metres away. He quickly became aggitated as we all started frantically taking photos http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Picton/blog-323714.html As we had been pretty much nonstop since our arrival in New Zealand we decided to chill out for the day Our hostel was one of the nicest so far and this seemed like an appropriate time to rest and relax for a few hours. We didn't rush to get out of bed and after another film in the TV lounge we cooked breakfast and took advantage of the free bicycle hire. The ride around Greymouth was rather s http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Greymouth/blog-323713.html We awoke to a beautiful day of sunshine and not a cloud in the sky After the classic breakfast of beans and scrambled eggs particular mention should go to the synchronised toasting of 9 slices of bread we packed up and headed towards the Franz Josef glacier. Once again opting for the cheaper option of our own guided tour we reached the lookout point rather quickly and headed back to the car. http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Greymouth/blog-323712.html Feeling a little tender again we woke up early and said goodbye to the girls before heading back to the slopes. Dale fancied a bit of snowboarding today so all three of us were doing the same. Much the same as yesterday we enjoyed ourselves and all tackled the harder runs. With Dale and Ollie even performing some impressive tricks including the ass grind and knee plant. Both spectacular visually http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Wanaka/blog-323711.html After a much needed sleep we were up and out by 10am and driving to Haarst throught incredible scenery. We stopped in Haarst for petrol and pies before continuing on towards Fox Glacier where we headed towards a lookout point. The view was dissapointing as we could only see a small part of the glacier through a clearing in the rainforest. Feeling fit Mark and Dale replaced their standard attire f http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Fox-Glacier/blog-323710.html Morning came very early and we hopped out of bed and prepared to go to the mountains. We headed for Cardrona and arrived at about 9am. After a few brief lessons from Ollie Mark was off on his board whilst Dale skied behind him and Ollie brought up the rear.We spent the entire day cruising the slopes and had a great time. Mark enjoyed his first time snowboarding and played by himself for a while w http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Wanaka/blog-323709.html After a hefty night out we packed up the car and headed off to catch up with Dale who had gone ahead to Wanaka to catch some snow. We drove the 45 minutes down the road stopping at the site of the first bungy jump to watch a couple of jumpers. The first person backed out and then we watched a tandem jump.We arrived in Wanaka and checked into our hostel and then waited off the hangovers by going http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Wanaka/blog-323708.html