Blogs from North Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 1184

Yesterday I got kicked out of the City YHA and moved down the road to the International YHA. I'm not sure whether this is a move up or down, since it doesn't have a quaint little bistro, but I'm content all the same. The only dorm they had was an 8-bed and when I got in, it was empty except for one guy who was sleeping but woke to address me in the most ridiculous English toff accent I've ever heard! Turns out he's the Right Hon Alexander Du Cevellier or CeBilliers or something. Ooooo - smell her! I had a quick chat and left him to sleep. Later on, I'm cooking when I hear someone shout 'Manchester!, Hello, I say, Manchester?!' and it's him again! I nodded my head and say a grumpy 'Hello' - ... read more

Hey friends! Just wanted to let you 'meet' my mate Ngaire Leighton! She will be my 'guest blogger' for the day. So treat her well, and look forward to meeting her one day:) Exams are next week and I’m busy studying, so enjoy this blog and photos, I might be MIA for a little while! Until next time, Shelly *For a map of our route Click Here Tena Koutou Katao, Ko Ngaire toku ingoa, Hello my name is Ngaire! I'm Shelly’s guest blogger for the day here to tell you about our visit to Kapiti Island. First of all, I want to say thanks Mr and Mrs Jackson for supporting Shelly in her trip to New Zealand. I have had some of the funniest times with this chick and I can't wait to meet you when ... read more

We've spent the last three days in the central plateau area of the north island. We took the decision to do the Tongariro Northern Circuit rather than the shorter Tongariro crossing while waiting for the water level on the Wanganui river to drop (which it has). This is classified as one of the ten great walks in New Zealand. Unfortunately we didn't get to see all the magnificent views it boasts as the rain set in on the second day and the cloud level was down. We were a little surprised when we arrived at the hostel on Tuesday night to be told that the route had been closed for the previous four days and that we would need crampons for the higher sections. We decided to head around the route in reverse and hopefully the ... read more

As you saw from the photos in the last blog, I did it! You can't believe the fear that goes through you when you step out onto a thin ledge, 192m above a rather harsh-looking concrete below you! With both white-knuckled hands gripping, one after the other along the railing, I slowly stepped out and the guy, (who rather worryingly was in training), harnessed me up on top of the tallest building in the southern hemisphere. Ok, previously I might have withheld the small fact that the jump would be a 'base jump by wire' meaning that you were caught and lowered by a wire on the way down, so it's not quite a bungy, but it's a good warm up - you've gotta take these things one step at a time you know! Anyway, Kim ... read more

Hello everybody We are now in the beautiful city of wellington. Since we last spoke, we have travelled from mt manguani (some spelling like that) through to Rotorua, Lake Taupo ( very nice), Napier (wine making place with lots of art deco - wonderful botanic garden) then across of Otaki (couple of hours from wellington) and then onto Wellington - where we are now. Napier was lovely, it was sunny and the scenery much like that of tuscany with all the vineyards. Otaki is a place you wouldn't think to stop in but it had this fantastic gorge which we went for a walk to, a massive car museum (where chris acted like a child in a sweet shop - he literally didn't know which direction to walk in first), and a beach were i ... read more