New Zealand

Well after last nights shenanigans I had an apology this morning which was nice, I suppose you have to expect it is hostels!

We had an early start again - 7.15am. We got on a big yellow bus and headed north up to Cape Reinga. Our first stop was a Kauri Forest but it was raining so I walked through it quite quicly as I hadn't bought a coat! The trees were fascinating and their history amazing! They can live up to 4000 years old. Unfortunatly there aren't many that old left now as since the maoris and europeans arrived they've been logged for timber. They grow really straight and tall so they are perfect for logging.

It was pretty much straight up to 90 mile beach with a quick stop to get food for lunch and also breakfast! The reason as we were in a rush was because the tide was coming in so we needed to get doing before there was no beach left!

Onto 90 mile beach which is about 60 miles, but they worked out that it was 90 miles because on average a cow can be herded about 30 miles a day so they used to use the beach to herd the cows down to the main towns and it took them around 3 days!

The beack was MASSIVE! It was amazing with crashing waves on one side and sand dunes on the other side! We passed a few 4 wheel drives but normal cars can't come along here and rental car agreements have NO DRIVING ON 90 MILE BEACH ALLOWED written very clearly. The result if you take a car on the beach is that it will probably sink - I'll put a photo on soon!

At the end of 90 mile beach are massive sand dunes, they are like sand mountains! I felt really travel sick at this point as Craig our driver was doing turns on the beach - ugh! So whilst everyone went sandboarding - body boards down the sand, I became the official photographer!

After the duning we headed north upto Cape Reinga which is the northern most tip of NZ and before we stopped there we went to a lovely little beach for lunch. Some of the guys got the boards out and went body boarding, I had a paddle then went and sat with the girls and had lunch.

Once full and a bit more relaxed we went to Cape Reinga and the lighthouse where the Maori believe that when someone dies theire soul travels north and along the headland to the Cape and departs this world! It's a very sacred place and it still belongs to the Maori people but the Department of Conservation look after it. We got there and walked down to the lighthouse, unfortunatly there were some workmen there with diggers and stuff building a new wall so trying to get a picture of the lighthouse was a bit difficult! There is ysually a sign like there is at Lands End/ John O Groats and that was down because of the work! However what was spectacular was the surrounding views. This is where the Tasman and the Pacific Oceans meet, you can kind of work it out at the waves are going towards each other, but it was a really calm day so there were no smashing waves! The views of the surrounding coast are amazing as well!

After we ledt here it was a long drive down to Kauri World, basically a stop to try and get us to buy some ancient Kauri tree stuff like coasters, kitchen utensils and other expensive stuff. The workmanship was amazing but it was all very expensive!

The last stop was at a place called Mongonui which has NZ's best fish and chip shop! So we had fish and chips, they were lovely, all the fish and chips are amazing! Mongonui itself is a gorgeous little harbour town with a few islands in the sound, it's situated in an inlet at the north of the Bay of Islands.

I had a few drinks with the group from the dorm again but I couldn't go out on the town as I had run out of cash and my money wallet was in the reception safe which was closed, so an early night for me! Not such a nice night though! The group came in at 2am making a racket and started pulling the mattress off one of the beds, it went out the patio door this time which I was trying to sleep next too! Very cold! They then bought it back in put it back on the bed - top bunk! They then had a crisp fight! Lovely! These people are older than me! Not the best experience as it was my first time in a mixed dorm!

We had a 7.30 am pick up this morning from Base. I popped in to say good bye to Jess as she was luckier and her bus didn't go until 8.00! Haf halped me with all my stuff! Thanks!

On the bus everyone was still asleep and there were only 17 people on a 50 seater so it was fairly quiet. Kane our driver explained that we would head straight up to Paihia so that we would have the afternoon to do what we wanted.

We stopped halfway for breakfast, Kane also arranged the accommodation. I opted for the Pipi Patch Lodge as that was what was suggested and everyone else stayed there! I also booked the Excitor a jet boat tour of the bay of Islands.

Arriving at 12.00 we checked in and I was second into my dorm which was pretty basic but clean. There were no lockers and the top bunks didn't even have railings on! Ouch if you roll over! There were 3 girls and 4 boys in the dorm and they all seemed ok!

They did a trip to some hot springs whilst I went and did the Excitor. The trip was fantastic, we went 45 knots saw loads of fish - no dolphins though! We went through the hole in the rock which is huge! It was such a laugh! As it was quite calm the driver couldn't do as many wave jumps and such but it meant that we saw loads more wildlife and he took us to see more islands!

Back at the hostel that night we had a barbeque which was tasty! I stayed for a few drinks then called it a night as I was knackered! The rest of the dorm stayed out came back around 1-2 am and started chucking the mattresses off the beds! I had been fast asleep and I tried ignoring them but then a sleeping bag landed on me!

Jess came in and woke me up this morning - I had fallen asleep again after my alarm went off! It was raining and miserable so we decided not to do Waiheke Island which has amazing beaches but to do Rangitoto Island as there is a 2-3 hour walk and then we could stop off in Devonport on the way back for lunch!

We got the 9.15 ferry to Rangitoto which is a dormant volcano just across the harbour from Auckland (Auckland has around 48 volcanoes) the weather was pretty awful and we were worried about the views from the summit!

When we got to Rangitoto Island 20 minutes later it had stopped raining and the clouds were beginning to break. We started heading up the track and it was very stony when we cam along a massive lava flow - not really hot lava obviously! It was from when the volcanoe erupted 600 years ago! It was quite freaky as there we were trundling along and wham! There between all the bush was a big rive of black stones!

It was similar all the way up - lush bush then a big black river of stone! It got quite steep and it was literally an hour to get up to the top! At the top you could see the crater and we walked up to the viewing platforms - during the walk the sun came out so we were sweltering having dressed for rain!

The views were amazing, you could see all of the other islands and Auckland. It is literally like being on top of the world!

We walked back down to the lava caves - we didn't have a torch so we couldn't go in but apparently it is quite cool!

We headed down the volcano to the ferry terminal and got the ferry to Devonport - yes it also has a navy base!!!

I've now seen the australian and new zealand navy and they are so small!

In Devonport which was very cute - lots of little boutique shops we went for Fush and Chups (That's how the Kiwi's pronounce it!). Really nice! They don't do curry sauce here though! But you get to decide whether you want your fish battered or crumbed!

We went back to Auckland and we went to the supermarket as both Jess and I leave tomorrow, me to the Bay of Islands and Jess to Rotorua. We got pizza for dinner!

Back at the hostel we scrubbed a baking tray for 15 minutes and black muck was still coming off of it! Then we discovered both the ovens were broken! So we ended up having Thai in an Asian food court!

Back at the hostel I showered and packed then spent the evening on the roof terrace having a few drinks with Laura and Sarah and welsh girl Haf (It means Summer in welsh!)!

Myself and Sarah decided to have a walk around Auckland so we walked down to the harbour and caught the end of the Auckland Swim. This is an annual event where a few hundred crazy fools swim from Devonport on the other side of the harbour into Aucklands Americas Cup Village! Mad!

We then decided that it was a bit to windy and chilly so we went for a coffee and walked up through the main shops! It's reasonably cheap here as well so I mainly window shopped and bought a few essentials!

We went for lunch in the SkyCity food court, basically it's just a cinema but the food was cheap!

I then left Sarah as she had to get ready for work - she's doing a Working Holiday Visa and working in an Italian Restaurant at the moment.

I was in farmers - kind of like BHS, where I met Jess, we started chatting and it turns out she's also staying at Base Backpackers. So we carried on shopping and had dinner. It was a reasonably early night as we decided to visit one of the Islands tommorrow.

My last entry was written waiting for the shuttle to pick me up at 5am! I got to the airport at 6am and check in didn't open until 6.40!

I went through and boarded my flight - very boring! I watched the film Must Love Dogs - Don't bother watching this ever itis sooo boring!

At Auckland I had to declare my boots at the biosecurity point and have them checked out. They were clean of course!

I got the Airbus to my hostel and it was quite nice as we went past Mt Eden and past the sky city.

At the hostel I checked in and my room is a 9 bed dorm this time but the girls are really nice. The bathrooms are well nasty, really old and dark!

Me and Laura from my dorm went for dinner in the hostel cafe and then I came back up and unpacked and had a shower. Sarah in my dorm is here on a working holiday visa and is working in an Italian restaurant so she went out. Two californian girls came along as well who were really nice, they had just come off of doing the Kiwi Experience so they told me all about it. Lots of sugegstions!

My camera is getting full so I'll be transfering them to disc soon so I'll be putting some on soon!