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Published: March 3rd 2009
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Poor Knights Islands
On our way out on the fast dive boat from Tutakaka Sorry we haven't blogged for ages, but we have been flat out travelling, and doing so many things.
(Thanks again for your lovely comments).
Hannah:
Arriving in Auckland - the flight was ten hours, but it felt about 5, because we passed time by doing maths papers, movies (Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Honey I Shrunk the Kids and Tom and Jerry). My first impression of New Zealand was what a cold dark place, but not as 24th centuryish as Singapore. But when we woke up in the morning my first impressions were unfounded! But still it was cold after being in Bali! I spent the first 3 day in my fleece and jeans. We stayed at the 1st night at the Scenic Circle hotel, small and cosy with great breakfast. That day we spent our time figuring out Auckland, and trying to find a hire car/campervan. The campervan situation was rather disappointing as you could only get campervans. with 3 seatbelts which means a family of 4 could only hire a giant white block of a campervan. So we got a hirecar instead from Apex - its great.
That day we drove straight to the Poor
The Bay of Islands
This is what the bay of islands looks like on a lovely day in the late summer..... Knights islands - but!!!!! then we realised we had forgotten to book a hotel, motel, hostel that sort of thing - we were wondering around till 12:00midnight - don't tell Nana! We won't mention the 12mile dirt track we went down that led to Wana-something-south until we realised it was just a walk way. But any way we found somewhere in the end Braeburn Motel in Tunakaki, we had to get Blue and Raywyn out of bed! Blue had a lovely dressing gown.
We stayed a couple of nights, because Mum and Dad booked a days diving on the Poor Knights Islands with Tutukaka Diving.
'Hannah again':
At the Bay of Islands........we were only
Asleep on 'The Rock'
Worn out, but woke up to a lovely view of the Bay of Islands there for 2 days, but we spend most of the time on The Rock. The Rock was a boat full of fun, with shooting competitions (I won some marshmellows - one of my favourite bits), fishing for snapper, musical instruments, and kayaks. We went night kayaking and played with the phosphorescence, if you waved your hand under the water it turned luminous green - dad swam in it, he did a cannon ball and all around him was bright green phosphorescence.
The Rock was a beautiful old boat, transformed from ferry to overnight cabin boat. Me and Oliver were digging on the beach and we hit clay!! So we started making things, then dad joined in, then suddenly EVERONE on the beach joined in, including some of the crew (Elliot and Jose), Robbie, Callum and Kerry - by the end we had made a whole dinner set, a plate with fried eggs and chips, a napkin and napkin holder, and a vase of flowers!
We went snorkelling and saw a porcupine fish, which we thought was a giant puffer fish, which we found out later it was deadly poisonous....arghhhh.
We had a really long drive, late at night
Canoeing off The Rock
Hard to see but this is me getting in my canoe to paddle to the beach where we found the clay. to get to the hotel in Taupo. We stayed near Auckland, then drove all morning to get here. Now we are at Taupo Ika Nui, it's a really nice place with a games room and pool. There are 2 double beds and a single, so I have my own bed. We decided to go fishing, and went with Marty Stains for monster trout in Taupo lake. Marty had an awesome boat, thankfully with an inside bit - as it rained solid for the first five minutes. Marty was just showing us how the rods workewd, and saying it will do this if a fish is on it - and just as he was about to tug it, it started waving up and down madly - Oliver caught this fish. It was long and thin. Mine was short and fat! See the photos.
The AC Baths - today we went to AC Baths, it is a thermal heated swimming pool. You can swim inside and outside, there is a tarzan swing and it has two slides, a mild slide and a WILD slide.
'Oliver's bit' - the rock was big, with very nice people on it. We had
What a whopper!
We had only been fishing for 10 seconds!!!!! our own little hut with a balcony, that looked over the edge of the boat. There's a good picture
We did kayaking and it was fun. We caught an octopus, and we had a raw muscle to eat, and Hannah had some raw sea urchin eggs - Hannah liked it, she said it tasted a bit weird - euch!
We had a shooting competition, dad came second. The thing I remember most is the view.
I caught a fish on lake Taupo, it was a trout and it was big. Taid it was a 2lb'er. Hannah caught 2 fish. We timed it just right because it chucked it down, then we went off and caught the fish.
Today at the swimming pool in Taupo went down the “wild” slide. It was very very different to the “mild” slide. It is a huge swimming pool heated by a volcano.
Annwyl Mrs. Thomas, pan oedden ni yn Bali, roedden ni bron iawn ar y 'equator'. Rwan rydan ni yn Seland Newydd, ac rydan ni ar gwaelod y byd. Dydan ni ddim wedi disgyn I ffwrdd!!! Yn Seland Newydd mae'r bore ni yma, yn nos chi adref, ac
The Catch
these are the trout that Oli and I caught for tea. maen diwedd yr Haf yma (ac yn braf iawn) ond mae'n diwedd y gaeaff adref!
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Sarah, Dan and Cerys
non-member comment
Wow, the diving and fishing both sound amazing. Can't believe how much you have managed to fit in. Don't blame you for wanting to stay out there. Lots of hugs love us. x x