Not the best start to my stay in New Zealand, as my backpack got stuck in Brisbane - not that I let it get me down too much. I enjoyed the chilled atmosphere of the city, and didn't do too much. The highlight for me was probably a trip to Devonport, where I climbed a couple of volcanic cones, and enjoyed a really good meal of snapper and chocolate whiskey cake ('Zigana'). I had decided that I would travel New Zealand by backpacker bus, mainly for the social advantages. Thus I had the usual problem of picking between the three main companies; Kiwi Experience, Magic and Stray. My preference was Magic, as they are reputed to suit more independent travelers. However, they were offering an extraordinary 2-for-1 deal, which would have been fantastic if I weren't
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