Saturday 8th Have had the most ENORMOUS amount of sleep, so have a relaxed breakfast, then head round to the internet cafe with Shilpa and we both put in an hour. I may regret that I haven´t gone to the laundromat, but hey, internet more fun for now! We get back to the hotel, pack ready for the bus. Run into Michael, ask him how his birthday went last night, get a ´don´t ask´look, so think it must have been great, but turns out that he was robbed last night, including his passport. He was in the ´wrong´part of town, apparently, [View Full Entry]

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Friday 7th This is the tour that I am joining: Southern Cross Well, that was a refreshing night´s sleep - not! Didn´t get any sleep at all, so now just got to make myself stay awake all day! Got dressed 4am, was out waiting for the taxi by 4.40am - we had some miscommunication when it wasn´t clear if he was waiting for me or someone else, but we got there in the end. Was at the airport soon after 5am, for an 8.35am flight - bit early, but guess that´s better than not at all?! Easy check-in, and my bag [View Full Entry]

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Wednesday 5th Once on the flight, is all clean/friendly... And in Spanish first of course! Soon the entertainment system is running - have opted for Disney's 'Enchanted', followed by Alvin and the Chipmunks - adult, I know. Food is pretty tasty alongside the films before I try to fall asleep. Manage 2 x 2 hours of sleep, which is more than before. Wake up to watch 'Martian Boy', and await breakfast. Back to my book as we come into land. Easy through security - not impressed to see that another part of my bag is broken (and these 2 breaks are [View Full Entry]

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Tuesday 4th Awake 630am again - need to be ready for 730 so get up. Get ready quietly, and my bags don't look too bad - reckon I'll get everything in tomorrow! Several of us are hovering for the bus - a small one this time - I can't sit too far back on these, they sway too much! Get on and we head off - Leftie is our driver again today, this is his last shift for Magic. We stop at Hokianga (for breakfast if desired) - wonder about trying to get an appointment for anti-altitude sickness medication, but it's [View Full Entry]

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Monday 3rd Another 630am start - bus arrives 710. Today we have Jack and it's soon clear that he really knows his stuff as he drives us through an area which has plenty of history along with natural sites. Lots of Norfolk pines which indicate an area settled by missionaries (the top forms a perfect cross), some of the oldest buildings, and plenty of kiwi-fruit/avacado plantations. A short walk into the Kauri Tree forest where is a particularly large specimen. We stop at the Kauri shop, and get a chance to walk up a staircase hollowed from an ancient/large Kauri tree [View Full Entry]

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Saturday 1st March Up in time to get out to the Post Shop again, and once again it's raining. Peter says that the dive boats aren't out today as it's too rough, and when I get picked up by the Magic Bus apparently all the boat trips today have been cancelled at Paihia too - there's a gale blowing in! We're not sure what that means for my overnight boat cruise (Rock the Boat) tonight - they haven't called it yet! Not too far to Paihia, where I have to wait to find out about my trip. In the meantime I [View Full Entry]

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Wednesday 27th A really early start, but I'm kind of awake anyway. Onto the bus, Leftie is the driver (met him on the South Island). Smooth journey to Whangerai, where I am collected by Peter from Bunkdown Lodge. This is their home, combined as a backpackers - feels like a good place to chill out. Spend the morning sorting my bags a bit more, finding more things to throw/post off, before heading into Whangerai for the afternoon for a bit more shopping and some time on the internet - but it won't let me do much so not too long! Back [View Full Entry]

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Tuesday 26th A nice journey back through some familiar countryside, to meet up with the bus to Auckland. We catch up, and Dusty is our driver. No room at the YHAs, so they recommend the Albert Park backpackers (a quiet, boutique hostel), as the Fat Camel doesn't sound like my kind of place! The journey continues - back through Peroa where we finally stop for a photo with the big bottle! Back into Auckland early enough - find my hostel - not impressed (friendly but run down/over-packed and noisy). However, it is close to Queen Street where I head to collect/buy [View Full Entry]

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Saturday 23rd Woke up to a dry but overcast day, so this looks promising, but as we drive off with our driver 'Purple', it starts to rain and it just gets heavier and heavier. We whizz through the mural town and the much hyped photo stop with the large Lemon and Peroa bottle - I shoud have asked him to stop - just got that blurred image out the window. We get to Thames a bit late, just time to swap onto the other bus, smaller - with our driver Luke. We head into the windy Coromandal hills, see plenty of [View Full Entry]

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Wednesday 20th Another 'that little bit too early' start, and still only just ready in time - but in a slow getting ready kind of way! After half-hour of collections we're on the way, seeing more Art Deco architecture on the way. Around 10ish we get to Taupo - 20 minutes is allowed here as Eric, our driver, disappears off to drop/collect more passengers. Another 10 minute stop at the Huka Falls, and get a chance to see the view Woshil talked about above the falls, as well as the view below the falls - neither of which I saw last [View Full Entry]

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