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Published: April 27th 2008
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Around half way through the month on the North Island I jumped back on the Stray bus. I'd already paid for the ticket and it allowed me to do the Tongariro crossing. Amy jumped on too, and we met up with Wendy which was cool as it had been a good while since we'd seen each other, let alone travelled together.
For some reason, when I publish this blog is resets all the photo labels and order so apologies for things that do not match.
Auckland to Hahei Shortly after jumping aboard the substantially smaller bus we went up to the volcanic crater that overlooks the city. Such a dramatic contrast to the rest of the views in NZ. Big city below, dominated by the sky tower and surrounding sea. Brief stop in Thames for food/beer at Pak 'n' Save (best supermaket ever! so cheap and the food good too), then headed up the coromandel peninsula for Hahei. Really nice up there. A big group of us from the bus walked up the coast to Cathedral Cove. A dramatic arch carved out of the rockface on the beach. fun messing about taking pics etc before treking back! Bus
driver (Nanna) cooked us a big BBQ, he did a very good job too!
In the evening we went to Hotwater Beach. At low tide you can dig a hole which gets filled with hot water from below. We didn't. We stole somebody else's! In some places the water was very hot, hot enough to burn! was cool, sitting on the beach in bath-like water, beer in hand, laughing with mates looking out over the beach. It had been dark for a while so we headed back for a couple of cans and some cards.
Amy and i liked it so much that we drove back there!
Hahei to Raglan Nice hostel just outside Raglan. Unfortunatley part had been rented for a wedding - inconsiderate! We spent the afternoon sat by an awesome surf beach with waves were so good that they looked artificial!
Raglan to Maketu In the morning went to Waitomo for their famous glow worm caves. Went toobing, which involves walking 2hours through a cave system and spending parts sa it in a tyre floating down the underground river. good fun, but none off the fast flowing water i had expected,
plus most of time was spent walking. However, the glow worms were spectacular. Lights off, walking through a pitch black cave they light the ceiling of the cave like stars. The rock formations were also worth the visit.
That evening was great fun. the whole bus stayed at a maori meeting house. basic but nice meal was followed by a performance by local children. They managed to look surprisingly scary! without doubt thought the highlight was performing the haka! the 5 guys were taught by a local moari, all the movements, all the words, and all the atitude! shirtless we glared, shouted, and slapped our way through the performance in front of the girls which out numbered us about 3 to 1! I had big handshaped bruises on my thighs and no voice, but it was such good fun! apparently we were the first group in a long time to get all the actions and words right -and all with alot of attitude. scary too apparently. job done. afterwards the girls performed the poy, less scary but they were good.
Maketu to Taupo Most adrenaline filled day of my life!
Started with whitewater rafting down the
river outside Rotarua! 6 of us battled our way through rapids and down waterfalls. The highest waterfall being 7 metres high - pretty daunting! in the photos the whole raft, with us, disappears completely under the water!!! loved it.
To New Zealand travellers Taupo generally means one thing... strapping yourself to a complete stranger and jumping out of a plane 3 miles above the ground... aka - SKYDIVING.
Only planning to do it once, i decided to plump for the full McCoy. 15000ft. Wendy, Amy and I were suited and booted (except wend who went shoeless!) and loaded into a little plane. adrenaline was pumping as we climbed high above the ground, great views over the lake. we all looked cool in our hats of course. Watching another girl in our plane jump out at 12000ft really got me going. excited. nervous. you name it. at 15000ft i was perched at the door, no contact with the plane at all.
3....
2....
1....
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahh!
what a rush, just falling, screaming, all a blurr for 15/20 seconds then the ground looms large below. heart pounding as i keep falling for what seemed like an eternity... wahoo! such a good feeling.
Then the shute opens and all calms down, buzzing as i look out over the spectacular view in front of me. floating down to the ground is an experience in itself and i'm grinning like a cheshire cat as i stand up after the landing. Wendy and Amy are both the same as the land. Amazing. Got to be repeated.
....and it's all on DVD!
I had a great intructor actually, Reno. He was a good laugh and the way he shot the DVD was much better than some. I had the choice of my own music for the DVD and they let Amy and Wend in my video so it really feels personal. 100%!a(MISSING)wesome experience all around.
That day was topped off by the night out for St Patricks day. Beer... Facepaint... enough said.
Spent an extra day in Toupo, mostly to recover and prepare for the volcano crossing the day after. 4 of us walked down to the local hot springs. nice way to relax.
Tongariro Crossing Supposedly the best day walk in New Zealand, the Tongariro crossing took us 20km up and over the volcano. Those who have heard of the small
time film, The Lord of the Rings, might be interest to know we walked across the foot of Mount Doom. It was a challanging day and i'm glad we had rested the day before! Being a volcano, the was obviously a lot of climbing and equalling challanging descending. It was hot. it was well worth the effort. it's not every day you get to walk through the crater of a volcano. The views were mind blowing and the rocks were a multitude of various reds, from black to light. The emerald pools, were, well, emarald like. All in all it was a tiring but memorable day.
that night we stayed in the national park at a nice lodge before heading back to Auckland with a crazy driver. long day of not a lot. but we did stop for a gum boot (welly) throwing competition. more technique than you'd think!
Auckland All in all I didn't spend, nor feel I needed to spend much time in Auckland. We had a fun night out for Amy's birthday and did a little shopping but that's about it. Although actually we did go to see a super 14 rugby game, Blues(auckland,
NZ) vs Bulls(south africa). close game(23-21) and we had great seats. It is so different to the rest of NZ. The 1.1 milion inhabitants out number the entire population of the south island, which in my view is pretty remarkable. it is also the only place I saw traffic in 2 months!
So long, fair well.... I loved New Zealand. It's no exageration to say it's the best country i've visited. It has it all. Secluded beaches, mountains, glaciers, forests, sports, adrenaline pumping activities, views, fjords, skiing, nightlife in the right places and the Kiwis I have met are all great. I was sad to leave, but then at least i was headed for Fiji....
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