thur 27th Nov Taupo to River Valley
We were meant to leave at 10.30 this morning but the bus broke down and Rich had to take it to the garage to try and fix it. I went to get some food while we were waiting and nearly missed it, we finally left at noon. We stopped off along the way at many of the waterfalls as we drove through Tongariro, New Zealand's oldest national park. We didn't spend too long here though since we'd lost a bit of time in the morning, honestly there really is so much to pack in here. Our plan was to reach River Valley early evening and the drive there was stunning. The area around River Valley is very remote and very green and it reminded me of the Lake District or Wales on speed as it's so much greener, more remote, sunnier and with so many more sheep! I forget how many sheep there are in this country but I know it's a lot. The number 20 million springs to mind but I think I've just made that up. Maybe that's what I'm wishfully thinking the balance on my bank account will be when I get back.
The River Valley Lodge is right next to the Rangitikie River down a steep hill and so we had to leave the bus at the top and walk down but a tractor and cart came to pick up our bags for us. We all checked it, I went for a normal priced dorm room and decided against the Orgy Room Dorms, so called since the mattresses are all right next to each other forming one huge bed. We went for our roast dinner in the cosy dining area, had a few wines and played giant jenga followed by some strange card game one of the guys had made up. I soon lost interest (impatient, moi?!) so got my book and settled on the squishy couches for the evening. Rock and roll.

Fri 28th Nov River Valley to Wellington

Today was a free day with no travelling and there was the chance to do some activities including horse riding, which Kate went on and said was fantastic. I decided against it using the excuse that I'm allergic while really I've ever so slightly scared of the giant creatures with there flaring nostrils. It brings back bad memories of the PGL holiday when I was younger (long story but involves me galloping off on a horse clutching on for dear life and Dad having a horse called Wally). There was also the option of white water rafting in some of the only commercially accessible grade 5 rapids in NZ and as much as I would have loved to do this again, I couldn't justify spending all that money when I've done it several times in the past. Instead I participated in some free activities with Sarah, Alex and Hannah and some of the others and went for a walk. This meant crossing the river by way of a pulley (very entertaining and typical mature behaviour of leaving someone stuck in the middle for a bit). The walk up was practically vertical (ok I may be slightly exaggerating but it was steep and hot) and the views at the top were incredible. We could see the house bus Rich was staying in (it's hidden from the lodge) and shouted down to him, which he told us afterwards he was a little freaked out about as he could here us due to the echo but couldn't see us. At the top, Alex self timed a pic of our sweaty red faces, which I won't be sharing with anyone, anytime soon. Once back safely down, we chilled by the river and waited for the others to come back.
We left after lunch and it was a steep walk back up to the coach but once again minus our bags. We were the last group to arrive (never!) and when we got there everyone was in stitches and Rich was looking rather pales. Turns out some of the lads had played a practical joke on him by sticking fake crack marks to the windscreen and Rich had panicked as he was on a bet with some of the other drivers that he wouldn't damage the bus during the first couple of trips. They put him out of his misery soon enough. From River Valley we drove through Taihape (the gumboot capital -you'd never guess what with the HUGE gumboot statue) and then stopped briefly in Bulls. All the names on the shops and buildings try and incorporate the word bull into them ie, constabull for the local police station, a letting agent with very renta-bull houses, an antiques shop with collectabulls etc etc. Gosh these people must be bored.
It was a fairly long drive to Wellington from here passed the Ruatine and Tarura Ranges and the rolling farmland. We arrived into Wellington, the capital city as it finally became so as to be easy reached by both the north and the south island. It is located directly on a major earthquake fault line with the biggest earthquake in 1855 measuring 8 on the Richter Scale. This is one place where we were disappointed not to have more time in but since we wanted to spend so long in the Abel Tasmen National Park we had to sacrifice it. We arrived that evening and were leaving early the next morning but still managed to fit in a night to sample the Wellington nightlife and had a fab night. We met a random guy from Wales who tagged along with us for a while but soon scarpered after trying it on with both of us and realising that we weren't that interested. We had a fair few drinks, sampled a kebab and went home for a few hours sleep before the ferry next morning.