10/2/09: the bus was meant to pick us up at 8.20 and we managed to get to the pick-up point in plenty of time this time!! However, when the bus turned up and we tried to get on the bus driver told us and 3 others we were only on the waiting list and so unless people didnt turn up we couldnt get on!! Everyone else on his list turned up so he told us to get a public bus to the main office over town in Parnell and sort out something!! We was all well cross cos we'd phoned and confirmed we was on the bus twice!!! We caught the bus to the office and they checked their computers and said we were all confirmed and the driver must have had the wrong list!!! Luckily the bus pulled up shortly afterwards for people to book their iteneries. So we could hop on- but it was a worrying time. We called at mount Eden then at a supermarket- we are now official travellers with a cool bag of food to carry around as well! We then drove to Cathedral Cove which is a really beautiful beach with big carvings out of the rock. it was a long walk down and back because its only accessible by foot. We then carried on to Hot water beach where you can dig holes in the sand and because of geotheremal activity the water in them gets warm! Unfortunately it drizzled nearly all day! But it was still amazing! We went to the Turtle Cove hostel and checked in- we had a nice room with 4 others and a really nice bathroom between us 6 which was better than most other rooms! They done us dinner for $7- i had vege ratouille and spaghetti with garlic bread!! Then we had a few drinks at the bar before bed.

11/2/09: Another busy day! Left hostel at 7.30 and stopped for breakfast at cafe. Then went to this old mining place in the mountains!! It was amazingly beautiful- it had a rocky river running through it with all rope bridges over it. We walked up and around the mountain- all tropical trees, etc, and through old mining tunnels which were pitch black!!!! There were glowworms on the ceiling which was cool!! Then we went on to Hobbiton where some of lord of the rings was filmed where we briefly stopped. Then on to Rotorua- it stinks of egg because there is lots of geothermal activity here and lots of sulphur. It is also the cultural capital. We stopped for a brief show and talk on Maori culture. Then we went to a geothermal park where we done a guided tour with a Maori woman who told us all about the Maori lifestyle and then showed us bubbling, boiling mud pools and geysers! We also saw real Kiwi birds!! We then checked into the hostel here before heading to the supermarket to get something for tea!!