OK, after a brief overnight stop in auckland in a hostel in centre of town with freaks in the room i got no sleep but was up and out at 7am for my bus to the bay of islands, Paihia. Only took a couple of hours to get there, only 3 of us on the bus so made some great extra stops as we were ahead of time! saw the most amazing toilets ever, will prob put all photos up when i get home now (in 3 days!) Hostel very nice, small town, wnadered around it that afternoon and the next day i had my cruise.......doing island hopping and very lucky to do it in sunshine! As we visited several islands, we dropped off post and parcels to the islanders!!! got to the hole in the rock, very cool as we went thro it!! saw some dolphins.....still amaze me these animals....and another rainbow, fairly similar to my milford sound cruise...but great looking out to sea and seeing nothing but sea!!! That afternoon i got the bus back to auckland, to a nicer hostel just outside the centre....no bunk beds, bonus! My last 2 nights in new zealand were to be spent here!!