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Hello,
So it's been over two weeks here in New Zealand. I have finally got used to drinking the water from the tap again and flushing tiolet paper down the loo. I am loving New Zealand, I feel like a kid at a sweetie shop because there are so many activities to choose from and all of them are good. (snockling, hiking, biking, caving, sky jumping, sand boarding, surfing, kite surfing, swimming, mountain biking, mountain climbing to name but a few...).
I have bought a 'STRAY' travel ticket which allows me travel the North and South Islands, hopping off and on at places which take my fancy. STRAY, is a travel group similar to the 'Kiwi Experience'. In fact, the owners of Stray first set up the Kiwi Experience and then sold it on. The people travelling with me are good fun. There are many Brits, Irish and Germans with a few Swiss. I have visited, Piahia, Ninety Mile Beach, Cape Reinga, Hahei, Raglan, Waitomo Caves and Rotoura.
PAIHIA (Bay of Islands) -
Paihia, is a very pretty tourist town, lots of activites to do, dolphin swimming, sea kayaking, scuba-diving, surfing, Cape Reinga Tours, horse riding and quad biking etc, etc... I went on a Cape Reinga tour, which took me to the cape and ninety mile beach, (actually 68 miles) but hey, its a still a very long beach. Its also scared to the Maraes. The tour included a visit to the Puketi Kauri Forest and sand-boarding on the dune. (check the pictures out). I also went walking to the Haruru Falls. The trail took me meandering through the Waitangi National Reserve and along boardwalk sections through the mangrove forests. Whilst in Paiha, I heard the call of the horses, so I went riding again. Its such a good way to see the landscape. My horse was called Santos and he was a miserable old git but lovely to ride.
HAHEI
Hahei is across the Coromandel peninsula and is home to incredible beaches. It was unfortunate that is absolutely 'pissed down' with rain. In true Brit style, the weather didn't stop up going to visitthe beautiful Cathedral Cove and its dramatic limestone arch. We were not beaten by the wind and driving rain. We were here and we were going to enjoy it, no matter what.....
RAGLAN
Famous for surfing. Surfers come from across the globe to ride the waves. 'The Endless Summer' was filmed here. I loved this place because it was so laid back and tranquill. I didn't surf but I did alot of walking. I also went on a zip wire in the dark whilst drunk, saw glow worms and watched the sun-set each evening.
WAITOMO CAVES
I went on a 'Tumu Tumu Toobing' trip. It was a 4 hour trip in the caves, we got to see glow worms, stalactites, stalagmities and wired and wonderful columns. We were all kitted out with lights, hats, wet suits, etc and we had to climb, crawl, swim through tight, narrow passages. i was the shortest in the group and had to swim/float much of the time because my feet didn't touch the floor!
I'm now in Rotorua. I have only arrived so my adventures have not yet begun. This is the place where I go river rafting. The river has the highest drop on a commerical river. I've heard its 7 metres, yes seven. (Gulp).
So until next, take care as always and be good.
Love Annie
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