Thanks for the constructive and well thought out messages guys. Heres me trying to be really sensible by broadening your minds about culture and society on the other side of the world and your taking the mick out of me (ha ha). Keep them coming.Yet another day of travelling and another day of bloody rain. The whole country seems to be covered in a blanket of low cloud, mist and sheets of fine rain; you know the type that gets you really wet (Peter Kay joke). I ca...

Well I had a right drama with my transport out of Mordor (Tongariro National Park to you not educated in Lord of the Rings speak). When I made my booking out of Whalapapa I was assured my 2.30pm bus would connect with the Intercity coach from Turangi to Wellington at 3.15. It wasn't until I was half way there when I was informed by the driver that there was no chance, I was not impressed. Anyway I said "Dont you know who I am? My names splattered all ove...

Hello again,Well my journey from Turangi to Whakapapa (pronounced Fakapapa) was interesting! It was in a clapped out mini bus being driven by Alfred who is 108 yesrs old. He moved from Manchester 55 years ago and was a hopeless driver, especially since he had to stop the mini bus everytime he wanted to change down to second gear! The journey took 45 minutes and I shared it with a furious couple from Holland who had waited ages for their transport and a couple of ...

I'm just here for a couple of hours as I'm travelling between Auckland and Tongariro National Park where I hope to do the four day Great New Zealand Walk. I set off from Auckland at 0800 on a coach and its taken 5 hours to get here, but that's with a half hour break. The countryside is not too disimilar to that of the UK but it does have some tropical vegitation to. We occassionally passed through what I would describe as American style 'shanty&#...

Phew! Here at Last. After a tiring 2 day journey from Millom I'm finally in Auckland. I arrived at 1130am to a fine clear day of 16 degrees. The immigration process was probably the most stringent I've experienced! I was required to declare my camping equipment and the small items of food (herbs and stuff) I had brought in. I then had to strip my tent apary and the immigration staff cleand my tent pegs because there was muck on them! Once outside I jump...