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Published: April 26th 2007
Well before I start going on about NZ I have to add our last experience in Australia- A tsunami warning heading to the North East coast of Australia- we were in Cairns!. The hostel made us pack up important things and watch the TV news waiting for a signal to get to higher ground (the multistory shopping complex car park!). The owner went around banging on peoples doors to wake them up (it was in the am) and although a little scary, a bit of a buzz too. Fortunately though Australia was ok although other islands in the pacific were affected.
The end of our stay down under was over and it was time to say goodbye to the tropical heat and board the plane heading to Auckland, NZ.
When we arrived it was weird seeing people wearing jumpers and scarves again and we felt the chill alright! We walked the city of Auckland and went up the tower for great views of the city, we also watched crazy people jump from the top!
Eventually (after getting stuck in Auckland for 10 days cause our credit card was maxed- our silly mistake) we picked up our 'Wicked' van with the
more dolphins
Bay of Islandsdesign 'Buck Fush' and a portrait on the side, we started our journey heading north.
We felt more at home here with the green surroundings and it was such a scenic place. We drove up to the Bay of Islands where we had a ride on a turbo speed boat up the the 'Hole in the Rock' and into a cave- we also saw dolphines showing off! We then rocked up at Coromandel Peninsula and warmed up at 'Hot Water Beach' where all you have to do to get a hot spa bath is dig a hole in the sand- no joke it was soo hot you could only stay in one spot for a short period before having to move! They reckon it is about 60-65C!
Our next stop: the famous thermal wonderland- Rotorua. The brochures were so right you could definately smell the town before you could see it! We stayed at a hotel (gotta cheap deal-so cool), which overlook a thermal park. From our balcony we watched the geyser continusely spurt away with a large mud pool bubbling away too. We went to a park, which showed all the sulpheric areas (hence the smell) with fab views
of colourful nature at its best. We also watched the 'Lady Knox Geyser' show her stuff by spurting water up to 20m high!
From here we drove down to Lake Taupo. Very cool- the lake is a volcanic crater and is huge (I cant remember the exact size but huge anyhow). It was here that I finally achieved doing my skydive. I have been waiting so long to do it but couldn't choose where and it just seemed a good place and price! So after a long nervous morning, (in which I went to watch the Anzac day rememberance parade) I geared up and boarded the tiny plane. I was very lucky and had a fab tandum buddy who made me feel a little less nervous. The most nail biting bit was dangling your legs out of the plane, then Brad (my tandem buddy) shouted 'ready... go' as he pushed us from the plane. The first falling bit was like nothing I have felt before the G's were extreme, we then freefalled for 45 seconds before the shute went up and we made our panaramic view of the lake, decent back down to earth. My adrenaline levels were through the
roof and I was on a high for about an hour after the experence. I would definately do it again!! And everyone should definately try it! Anyway enough of that I get abit carried away...
We have just finished a tour of the caves in Waitamo- where we got to see lots of glowworms whilst cruising along in a boat. It was very beautiful even thorugh we knew we were looking at maggots stuck to the cave roof!
We are going to Tongaririo National park next for some proper hiking (or Tramping as New Zealanders call it) we have only done bits here and there so far. Looking forward to it even though we will stuggle I'm sure!!!
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Carly
non-member comment
You NUTCASE, looks amazing, must be such a buzz. But I dont think I have the balls!