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Published: June 17th 2008
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The Haka
The Haka, at the Treaty Grounds As we were arriving into Auckland on the Plane, the sun was rising up over New Zealand on my 26th Birthday. We were grateful just to be in NZ after having problems at HK airport with our visas, which thankfully we sorted out.
Arrived into Auckland and found a hostel by picking one from a map at the airport. Arrived at Albert Park Backpackers and got ourselves our Dorm. Met lots of really friendly people and ended up doing karaoke for my birthday.
After managing to sort out camping gear, we bought our first campervan named ROCKY. Old, but still a fighter. Rocky is a 1990 Toyota Townace classic, with white doors, one grey one, and blue electrolux stickers on it.
We then headed for Bay of Islands and the Northland.
The drive there was stunning with all the windy roads, fields and trees. Unfortunately most of the Kiwi drivers didn't appreciate the scenery and kept trying to overtake us on the narrow roads, as Rocky tries desperately to climb the hills at 20kph. We managed to attract some good convoys and even the lorrys were overtaking us. Going downhill was a different matter, and we got
some air.
As soon as I got to Paihia I signed up to the dive course. One day in the pool, one day in the classroom followed by two open water dives. The first was at Matauri Bay, and then the second was at the dive site by the HMS Canterbury.
The water was amazing and saw some stingrays and eels plus loads of amazing fish. Will definitely be going back to see the Rainbow Warrior wreck dive. The Bays are really stunning from the boat, and the water is clear blue (but cold).
Arrived at a campsite just outside of the main strip in Paihia. As this was a little too quiet we moved to the peppertree lodge which was a complete party hostel. First night in the hostel led to a disaster. We had a bunch of Swedes in, and everyone had some drinks (except for me, as I was finishing off my diving course). After everyone had (eventually) gone to bed, someone jumped down off their bed and started undoing their trousers to pee over everyone. I woke up and started yelling at him to stop him from doing it, just as Oz jumped
up too. Unfortunately with the beers and dark room he ended up headbutting the ladder of the bed. All that proceeded was a lot of shouting. I was trying to get the guy out as Oz was holding his head and groaning. Once we turned the lights on we saw that Oz had completely cut his head open. After Oz kept passing out on the floor, I had to phone an ambulance to get directions to the nearest hospital which was about 45ks out of town.
Being the middle of the night, with no phone credit, no petrol and no conscious Oz, I had to drive him in the pitch black through the windy roads to the next town. Unfortunately the town was the size of my thumb and had no signs. As soon as we entered the town we were leaving it again. Finally had to pull into a layby to let Oz sleep and wait for dawn before we ran out of petrol and got lost. Eventually a bin man came to our rescue and let us follow him to the hospital (although I think he was freaked out by random girl jumping out of a old
Rocky
Camping at Mataori Bay campervan in the middle of the night and chasing after him).
After finally getting to the hospital, the nurses told us that there were no doctors at the hospital and we would have to drive all the way back to Paihia and wait for the surgery to open in a few hours.
So, hours later, missed the boat for the diving, but we did manage to get Oz's head glued. Having to speak to the manager of the hostel with blood stained sheets in hand telling him we had an accident was met with a horrified look on his face, but we managed to get ourselves sorted. Looking forward to an early night after the days adventures, we had some other swedes check in, only to have the most interrupted night in the world. The next day we moved to The Picked Parrot.
The Parrot was fantastic with a crazy owner who had the most thrusting hips I have ever seen on the dancefloor. We also had two dogs, one of which had his head in another dogs jaws, a cat and a parrot.
Met some fantastic people, including Lucy who sleep screamed/abused/shouted/rustled throughout the night.
Went to the Treaty Grounds to watch the haka, and also have a wonder around the grounds. Really amazing views, the bays are very impressive. Matouri Bay was a favourite of mine, and Me and Oz camped there one night and saw three shooting stars.
Loved the Bays of Islands, and no where better to relax in the sun, then up here.
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