North Island

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I have to say, that despite all the rain (okay, it's been raining for 1 day, but it seems much longer when there's not much to do....), New Zealand has definitely captured my heart. It is fantastic here, absolutely stunningly beautiful and apparently I haven't even seen the good stuff yet! I'm making my way down south now after being in New Zealand for nearly 2 weeks. So far I've gone around the northern end of the North Island (Northland) to the Bay of Islands and to 90 mile beach (actually only 90kms, 64miles) and to the top where the Pacific Ocean meets the Tasman Sea at Cape Reinga. Everywhere I've been it's just breathtakingly beautiful and I just have to wonder how it's even possible that there could be so many beautiful places in this country!! It's definitely much much more than the LOTR....

I'm currently in Rotorua, where the whole town is basically sitting on one big thermal vent; it smells of sulfur as soon as you get into town! It's like Yellowstone, but on a smaller scale (I think, haven't been to Yellowstone yet, but I imagine it to be similar). There are tons of bubbling vents of water and mud in a park near the center of town and a couple of mud/thermal spas available to relax and enjoy the natural wonder of hot water coming up to the surface.

Pictures to come soon when I get to Wellington. So expensive to get pictures onto CD here...and plus apparently I've picked up a couple of nasty viruses on my memory cards along the way and so it's even more $$$....

As for news about the good ole US of A, the Super Bowl is this coming weekend I believe and I've been told from an English bloke that the snow is incredible on the west coast. Makes me rethink about moving out to somewhere else....

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Photos

Waiheke Island
Waiheke island is about 30 minutes by ferry away from Auckland. This is from a walk at the top of the Bird Sanctuary.

Pongo, silver fern
national symbol of New Zealand

kauri tree
largest tree found in new zealand...grows to about 5m wide!

cape reinga - top end of north island
this is where the tasman sea and pacific ocean meet. you can actually see where they clash! strangest thing....

Comments

[anonymous]

hahaha how do you get viruses on ur memory cards?? O_o haha superbowl wknd...werddd doode you dunt know that i got the solo do you? well i got the solo for orchestra :D tehehe we miss you glad to know your safe <333 - me