Hi guys, sorry for the lack of blog entry for a while, the computers in the hostel I have been in for the last 3 nights were right next to the TV so I didn't bother using them. I have just arrived back in Auckland again having spent the last 3 nights far north in the Bay of Islands. Although it was meant to be the 'winterless' north, we experienced the worst rain they have had for over 100 years, typical! We arrived on Tuesday lunch time after a 4 hour drive through some very scenic landscape and were meant to be going swimming but due to the weather we decided to save that experience fr later in our trip. So instead we went on the excitor boat ride, check ouy the videos. The boat was worth over a million ounds and had 1,600 worth of horse power behind it! It was a bit worrying when we got on the boat and some of the seats were taped off as the previous day one person broke their nose and two people seriously damaged their bags, nice. The bad weather actually made this trip better as the waves were massive. It was worrying enough that we had no seat belts and just gravity keeping us in our seats but the driver also told us that if we did end up in the water it would take about 2 minutes for the sharks to get us. Overall the 2 hour trip was well worth it. In the evening we went to a local bar and had a few drinks, as you will see by the photos probably too many! On the wednesday we went on a coach trip to Cape Reigna and 90 mile beach. Our coach driver was mental and exactly like Otto from the Simpsons, except I think he had a few more screws loose. Sand duning was the best part of the day. I had 4 goes, my first 2 were nice and clean but unfortunately my last 2 ended dramatically and I even got a cheer from a coah full of pensioners. Another good part of the day was actually driving along 90 mile beach right next to where the waves were crashing (the coaches are specially designed for this). Thursday was a complete washout and I have never seen rain like it. The other people in the Kiwi EXperience bus that was meant to be coming up that day got stranded on a flooded road and had to be rescued by the army. The wether made the day very frustrating as everything in the Bay is weather dependant. Due to are none existent activities during the day we went out for a fish meal at a restaurant on the sea front. Today the sun actually came out and I have got a bit sun burnt. We just went for a walk along the seafront as most of the ships we could have gone out on were on rescue missions. We left for Auckland at 4 and arrived about 2hours ago and will be heading off to Mercury Bay tomorrow morning. I will try to make my next blog as soon as possible. See you later.