Blogs from River Valley, North Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 2

Day 162: Monday 8th December - Driving to River Valley After leaving the Tongariro national park the bus winds its way through the rolling green hills south east to river valley, a lodge located on the Rangititikei river. Towering cliffs and bush-clad hills surround the lodge in its remote location. Here, we have the option of white water rafting and horse trekking - but these activities are all happening tomorrow. The evening is spent chilling out in the beautiful surroundings over a few beers. At 10pm I've had enough as the last few nights have caught up with me so I retire to the dorm to read a book. The dorm houses 32 people and is more like the facilities you get in huts when you're camping than a hostel. Its cheap though but the downside ... read more

Day 7: This morning I woke up early to go horse back riding. There was only 4 of us going so it was a nice small group. It was an interesing experience. The scenery was amazing, we had beautiful hill sides and lots of sheep everywhere we went. It felt just like riding in the lord of the rings movie, it was pretty cool. My horse tho had a mind of its own so it would start running at random when it was by a horse it did not like and it did not always want to listen to me. And went it was not acting up it would walk really slow so we were always beind from the group. it was alot of hills as well and since it had been raining so much latly ... read more

Wow, we have really packed in a lot! It's been non-stop! We've been weaving down the North Island and a few days ago took a ferry to the South Island where the scenery just gets more and more stunning. In Waitomo, we suited up for some serious spelunking in the Waitomo Caves, we repelled down a narrow opening in the earth and wound up 50 meters underground. Above our heads were glowing worms on the ceiling of the caves - they looked like stars in the sky! After a zip line, a leap off a ledge on our inner tubes into the river system below, we began our float through the caves. We carried on exploring the caves stopping for lunch in the pitch black (only our head lamps leading the way). It was quite an ... read more

Left Taupo early morning feeling tired from the night before but not too hung over(a little intoxicated perhaps) Very Grey day and ever so slightly chilli, jeans and sandle weather (jandles?). Today we were to have quite a long day on the bus. So as we drove to the Tongariro National park we watched 80s cheesy classic Rambo. Handnt seen it before and it made the time go by. Reached the National park by midday and spent a view minutes in the visitors centre learning a little about the park. The centre piece of the park is 3 large volcanos in the middle (one used for Mt doom in Lord of the rings) which some are still active and go off every so often. I may be wrong but I think it was the site of ... read more

After the Tongariro Northern Circuit I relaxed in Taupo abit and recouperated before I moved on to River Valley a remote place just south of Tehape- basically in the middle of no where, yet perhaps the most beautiful of all the places Ive been! The lodge was located in between a gorge next to a river. picturesque! Here I realxed the first day taking in the views then the day after I went Horse trekking, and I can honestly say it was absolutely amazing I cant describe how cool it felt. I did a half day exploring the areas of farm land around River Valley. The views were spectacular, My horse was called 'Buster' - abit wilder than the rest I think. Although it took me about 30minutes to get going I had it sust and ... read more