Tuesday 29th Ouch, that was an early start - took me a while to get to sleep last night so the alarm was a shock (probably also to the other 5 in my room!) - got ready quick - eating breakfast when bus pulls up - what's going on - they said 730 for 745, it's only 710. Apparently yesterday's busload was told 720. Office doesn't even open for key (deposit) return til 730! Pack a bit quicker than intended and am ready soon after 720 - then we wait for key returns - don't take off til 755 in the [View Full Entry]

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Sunday 27th January Another early start - struggled to get up and was only just out of the door as the bus was ready - should have been out 10 minutes early! First stop this morning is Hokitika - we get an hour for breakfast, or to stock up in the supermarket, or wander the beach. I find the beach - bizarre penguin house structures, and a driftwood sculpture display... Think the dog with the big stick in its mouth maybe wrecked one of them! Stocked up on a few goods at the supermarket and back to the bus on time... [View Full Entry]

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Saturday 26th January Get up in plenty of time to get ready. Whilst I'm sat eating my breakfast the Intercity driver comes in looking for a passenger... 15 minutes later a Korean lad comes in swearing... He's just missed the bus. I run close to missing mine in trying to help him, but am safely on the road in time! Our driver today is Ryan. First stop is Spooner's Pass Lookout... Not a great day for the view but we stop anyway! We make our way through plenty of winding mountain paths, stopping at Murchison for breakfast, before stopping again at [View Full Entry]

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Thursday 24th January Ouch, 6am, alarm goes off. Slam it off quickly to avoid waking dorm-mates, quickly gather everything together and am quickly grabbing breakfast when the driver bangs on the door. He's not happy because a) his coach clock is 10 minutes fast so he thinks I am late b) I am late as I didn't realise I was supposed to be standing outside 10 minutes early! Few others I recognise are on the bus, including Netty who says she was late out too so the driver was not happy with her either! Oh well, he soon chills out again [View Full Entry]

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Tuesday 22nd January Not my best night's sleep ever, and think may have another eye infection - we'll see! Heading to the South Island today so had to get up 620am in order to get the 825 ferry (has a proper check-in process for luggage - didn't expect that!). Easy to clear out, shuttle bus pretty full but OK, and onto the ferry in plenty of time to find a good outside seat, although the forecast is rain sò whether that will be a good option remains to be seen! Now 920am and it's spitting (and I packed the raincoat, doh!) [View Full Entry]

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Friday 18th On the bus again before 8, collect everyone, and the bus is buzzing with the news that a British backpacker was murdered around the corner from our hostel yesterday - no one knows much but there's plenty of rumours, along with talk of the plane crash at Heathrow. Meantime, we head off on the road, through some more beautiful scenery, with some photo stops, through the Desert Road, stopping a couple of hours later at the Gumboot Manor for 'breakfast', and in Otakpi(?) for an early lunch (chip butties anyone?). By 2pm we've got our first sight of Wellington, [View Full Entry]

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Thursday 17th January So, the first big hike for a while - this is all going to be good training for the Inca Trail! 5.20am, up I get, 5.40am am on the bus, but we're not at the start of the crossing until 730am. By 740am, Tom and Woshil are here, with Julie and Aaron, and we set off. We've heard about the Devil's Staircase and the first hour feels quite rough going, but no, that's the 'easy' bit! We then see the Devil's Staircase - that takes a while and involves quite a bit of clambouring. The others plan to [View Full Entry]

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Tuesday 15th We're back on the bus early, first stop some bubbling mud pools... I've forgotten their name, before heading onto the Lady Knox Geyser. We wonder how they can KNOW that this will go off at 1015, and then at 1017, when there's still no sign of it, or the guy to introduce it, what is going on. He arrives, says 'I'm the geezer, this is the geyser' and explains how they essentially chuck detergent in and that sets off a 45 minute eruption... Depending on the water table, etc. Quite an impressive sight, only happens once a day as [View Full Entry]

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Saturday 12th So, finally the first trip on a Magic Bus. It's a bit late, but the day seems to have time to spare. We stop almost immediately at Mount Eden to take some photos back over Auckland... And in the other direction of One Tree Hill (which was chopped down by a Maori in 2000). Soon back on the road through some awesome scenery - you can see how this is all formed out of volcanic rocks! First major stop is Waitomo, where there's an option to do blackwater rafting or visit the Glowworm caves. I choose to see the [View Full Entry]

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Thursday 10th So, years after Hayley sent me a postcard of Mount Maunganui (spelling, I haven't checked!)... we're talking primary school here, I finally land in New Zealand! The morning was fairly uneventful (after a night in which I got trapped outside my room as my keycard wouldn't let me back in... Sydney Central's just the YHA you want to be wandering downstairs in your PJs!): finished packing, got the train to the airport, spent 1.5 hours queueing up to check in (apparently always like this with Qantas Sydney, be aware!), another 15 minutes through customs/security, and then ther [View Full Entry]

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