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Published: February 19th 2010
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Landed in New Zealand 12th February whoop whoop. Stayed the weekend in Parnell with Anna- Claire, really great to see her again, met loads of her friends Saturday night, and went for a great tour of Auckland! (the pubs)! Monday morning and the start of my 'Kiwi Experience'. Luckily pick up point on Parnell road! so my 6.50 pick up didnt seem quite so bad considering i just had to walk down the road. Completely full bus heading north to Paihia, the Bay of Islands. Arrived around mid day, and myself and fellow Brit Charlotte who met on the bus decided to go on a walk to find the view point of the island.. this, however, was not a great success.. but not to worry the beach was only minutes away... again.. no success... real dirty water which did not look great to swim in - even by my low standards as previous strom swept lots of mud in... so where did we end up? down the local bar whoop whoop. The hostel was really great as it included mini swimming pool and jacuzzi along side everything else you would ever need. I decided that as I had come this far,
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We went to Auckland Zoo as there was a live music night.. we had a picnic and then checked out the zoo and this MASSIVE tortoise :D I should really book myself on the day tour up to the most northern point.. Cape Reinga. It was a really full fun packed day. Up at the crack of dawn we hopped on bus and headed north. First stop, Puketi Kauri forest. These trees are around 2000 years old!! and pretty dam big!! I had a lovely hug with one of them. Next stop Cape Reinga itself. We had a great Maori tour guide that told us how the Maori people believe that when people die their spirits go back to Cape Reinga and through to the afterlife via the Pohutukawa tree which is at the end of a cliff.. There is also a lighthouse at the end which is a good walk, a once there you find yourself at the point where the pacific sea meets the tasmin.. really beautiful and definitely a 'moment'. We continued and stop at a local beach for lunch and a refreshing swim. From there we headed to some sand dunes, although these wernt just any sand dunes.. one of them was 85 meters tall .. and that was the one our tour guide picked, as if your going to do it then
you may as well do it properly. completely agree! After an exhausting, will i make it, one step up three steps down walk to the top we were greeted my an amazing view! we then took our boogie board jumped right on and flew down the cliff. fun but not amazing considering the hike up! we then took the coach through a stream!! and on to 90 mile beach where we drove all the way along stopping for a refreshing dip in for those who wanted. that'll be just me then! and a few of us helped our tour guide collect shell fish in the sand by twisting our hips and digging feet into the sand! He asked who wanted to then eat one and guess who did it yup little old me.. although i was slightly confused as i thought that shell fish really needed to be cooked but i thought hey if this kiwi did it im pretty sure i can handle it! haha tasted absolutely disgusting and i wanted to spit it out straight away but i had already made every guy on the bus feel less of a man considering they refused so thought hey cant
let the side down now!! AFter that pretty much straight drive home stopping at a local fish and chip shop for some grub. Got back to hostel for a few beers in local bar. Next day.. 7am rise to get myself down to the harbor to get on the dolphin boat!!! The tour was for 4 hours driving around the island with the hope of meeting some friendly and playfull dolphins and then we had opportunity to get in a swim with them.. However, because these were wild dolphins they could not guarantee seeing them at all!!! The dolphins we saw were not being playful at all.. they kept diving down under water for short periods which was something the skipper said they did if they were not interested, so we moved on! At around 11 the crew asked if we wanted to go in for a swim if they dropped us near some.. I was in two minds if i should do it but thought well i have come this far.. we got kitted up with fins, snorkels and a mask and had a de brief. . i was ready pretty quick and waited for signal to get in
the water.. we passed some dolphins swimming along and they skipper drove up past and then yelled at us to get in.. luckily and i mean luckily i was the first in off one of the sides and i just swam like i have never before, I went in the directed that i thought they would reach and heard the crew yelling to get down.. under i went and there was a dolphin circling, it came a meter away looked and then swam off!! BUZZING i could not believe it! we all got back on the boat and i was grinning from ear to ear, one of the crew- Dave said he'd never seen so many teeth. We kept driving along untill we got to three more dolphins, we were all going back in as no one else had actually seen one yet. Again i was one of the first in, and swam like crazy to the dolphins, went under and there was one either side of me and one swam underneath!! i could not believe it.. i was so so excited and at the same time absolutely terrified, i was alone and surrounded my these massive creatures!! i was
petrified!! i popped back up and they had swam away just as everyone reached me.. back on the boat and i was so happy, but at the same time felt real guilty that no one had managed to see them, the crew told me i was being silly and it was just that i was right on the ball and had things sussed, Dave high fived me and told me i was a mermaid! haha Seeing the dolphins that close had to be one of the BEST MOMENTS EVER!!!! back to hostel and calmed myslef down in the swimming pool. next day back to Auckland and arrived at Anna- Claire's around 7pm. We then went out for Tapas and to a bar where they sold (cheaply) cocktails in a teapot! raaandom!! Today- went on a free tour of Auckland with Kiwi Experience. They took us along Harbor bridge for free-- the catch was we went to the bungee place so they obviously were making themselves some good trade!! but NO WORRIES!! there is no way i would do that.. and it was even that high!! haha but it was fun to watch others jumping off! we went to Devenport for
lunch and then up Mt Victoria where there are 360 views of Auckland and Mt Rot.. which was really nice to see.. back into town and managed to get dropped off right on street. Leave for Mercury Bay tomorrow which should be fun 😊
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