Blogs from New Zealand, Oceania - page 2530

High on the central plateua of the North Island is the Tongariro National Park. The National Park consists of three major peaks Mount Tongariro, Mount Nqauruhoe, Mount Ruapehu, given to the country by Horonuku Te Heuheu Tukino and chief of the Ngati Tuwhretoa people in 1887 - New Zealand’s first national park. In the winter the attraction is the skiing in the summer the walking, or tramping. I stayed in the National Park Village and the National Park Backpackers, a hostel with New Zealands highest climbing wall, (from sea level). Spent the first evening at the hostel climbing around on the indoor walls, the first time I have climbed and really enjoyed it. On an indoor wall the holds are all marked really clearly, but allows you to gain strength and technique in a very safe ... read more

Stayed at Steve’s Beachhouse Backpackers. The Beachhouse Backpackers is about 2 miles out of the small town of Opotiki, Steve had in his time travelled the world from his home in Auckland, returned after 5 years and asked where the best climate in New Zealand could be found - the east cape. The weather for me was good, and I enjoyed a walk along the beach, a wander through the town and relaxed for the evening. The Budget Backpacker Hostels network or the BBH is a group of independent hostels that are rated and listed in a book. Holding a BBH card entitles the bearer to a guaranteed price, in my experience the hostels that are members of this group tend to be the smaller, friendlier hostels. I purchased a card and set about saving a ... read more

A four hour bus ride north from Auckland and the Bay of Islands, described some where as the "jewel of Northland". I felt that after almost 5 days working in Auckland - from the Net Central Internet Cafe - that I deserved a break. Paihai is a small town with a population of 7200. It caters really well for backpackers, on just one small road over 2000 backpacker beds are available. The beach is just out front of the town and the just across the bay is the pretty town of Russell. I stayed in a small and friendly backpackers (hostels are called backpackers in NZ) called Pipi Patch Lodge, really nice place. The rooms of the Pipi Patch are clean, hold 8 backpackers and have comfy beds. Though on the downside the BBQ at $10 ... read more

I arrived in Auckland. I might have well arrived home, in the airport even before the baggage claim a lovely lady behind a stand offers you a free cup of tea or coffee. First thing in the morning after a long nights flight this is just what is needed. So I wandered through immigration and baggage reclaim sloshing my near scolding tea across my hands, baggage and pristine clean floor. I caught a bus down town to the Auckland Central Backpackers. Met a couple from Cardiff/Isle of Wight as I got off the bus they were on their way to the ACB as well. The ACB is the largest and most commercial hostel I have ever seen, over 600 beds, a huge Internet cafe and a kitchen that is a strange cross between a busy restaurant ... read more

Sky diving over a lake in NZ If you are wondering why there is a picture on the way down of my bare feet over the lake....it is because I was wearing flip flops at the time and the guys told me that I couldn't jump with them as they would fall off (obviously). Despite the sun my feet were frozen by the time we landed.... read more