Great Barrier Island

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Such a beautiful place - I'm starting to entertain thoughts of moving to New Zealand permanently! We arrived here on the 23rd and I had to stay on the boat the first day for anchor watch. The second day a bunch of us went ashore and hitched a ride into "town" from someone, maybe he was a postman(?). He was a crazy driver though! All the roads here wind around the mountains, they don't have guardrails and they're only a lane and a half wide! He went zipping around the turns without a care in the world and I almost had a heart attack every time a car came in the opposite direction. Somehow we didn't hit any of them. At one point a sheep darted out in the road right in front of us! The driver deftly maneuvered around it without a blink of the eye. We asked him if that happens often and he replied "every day"!

The next day we went ashore again only rented our own vehicle this time! We drove a while and then did a long hike into the wilderness to find some hot springs. We chilled out there with a couple Kiwi guys who turned up and had a great time. We had to take care not to get water on our faces though as it can give you Melanoma or something.

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Photos

Stormy Weather
On the way to Great Barrier Island

Hot Springs
L-R Kiwi guy 1, Kiwi guy 2, Jennie (front), Veronica, Fritjof, Jared, Brooke (hidden), Seth

Party in the Van
L-R Brooke, Fritjof, Vero, Rachel, Jennie