Well today we made our way to Rotorua - also known as Rotten Rua due to the smell of the place. Due to the sulphur it constantly smells of rotten eggs - delightful!! On our way we stopped at a gold mine that is still in use. Unfortunatley we werent allowed to go down it...which is probably a good thing as we would have all gone crazy trying to find a nugget to help us pay our way around the country!! We also stopped for a walk along the gorge which was...

Well we have been moving down the country slowly but surely today! We stopped off on the way to Mercury Bay for a couple of walks which were really nice, including Cathedral Cove which would be so nice during the summer months...unfortunately a little cold now. Oh we also went onto a hot water beach. Basically you dig a hole in the sand and it fills with hot water! Its actually so hot that you have to add some cold sea water. The tide was coming in quite rap...

Ok firstly this photo has nothing to do with where we went today, but I have to select one and I havent uploaded my photos yet. So we set off nice and early again today, 7.15am. We were greeted by a very enthusiastic bus driver called Auto (like the bus driver in the Simpsons and yes he is the original..apparently). We were heading up the the top of the island today - Cape Reinga. Throughout the day Auto told us about the Maori history and all of the pl...

Hi Everyone! Well we set off on our journey to the most Northern point of New Zealand. Knowing that the Kiwi experience can often be very '18 to 30's' we were delighted when we got on the bus to see that everyone was just very chilled out. This may have been because it was only 7.30am! Anyway...we started to back our way up the island to a place called Paihia where we would be staying for 2 nights. Our driver, Baa Baa (they all have names like this) provided...

Well hello one and all! You'll all be delighted to know that we arrived safe and sound (if not a little tired and bedraggled) in Auckland on the 20th. Rather interestingly we actually lost a day, the 19th, during our flight, and as we won't be flying home from New Zealand I dont think we will be getting it back. I feel I little cheated...but I think I'll get over it. Anyway....we arrived at around 4am and thankfully we were allowed into our room at the ...