Cathedrale Cove

I got up really early in Auckland and was picked up by the Stray Bus around 8am. I was so excited to get on the road and start meeting some new people. WE headed upto Mount Eden in Auckland which looked out on the entire city and all the active volcanoes, which was really cool. After Auckland we made our way to Hahei and where we were going to see Cathedrale Cove. Some of the group went kayaking an the rest of us went on the hike. There was a real mix of people on out bus; people from England, Ireland, Holland, Switzerland, Germany, Argentina, and America, it was a really cool bunch of people.

Cathedrale Cove was amazing. The views looking out on the beach throught huge natural caves were spectaular and the sea was so blue! I can't imagine how blue it must be in summer! Although it was incredibly cold it was such a crisp day with blue skies. I was so glad to get to NZ and see such a different landscape!

I walked with a few of the girls from all over Europe and thought that them, being nearer the front of the bus, may have heard the instructions as to where to turn off the track back to the camp ground, but as it turned out nobody knew! It was so funny, we were all sot of following eachother before we realised, we really let the girls team down! We seemed to walk until there was no beach left and then did a complete circle of the entire town and all the houses. In the end after asing for directions of many people we turned up, cold, tired and about 40 minutes behind everyone else. It was such a good start to the trip!

We later went to the hot water beach, which unfortunately we couldnt't swim in beause he tide was too high, but we all paddled and sn out feet into the ground. Despite knowing that the sand was heated by volcanic ativity below, we still all seemed shocked when our feet became scoulding hot! It was s bizzare! The sea would come in and you would freezem and then within seconds yor fee were toasty again from the heat below! It was really cool to see!

That night we had a group BBQ at the campsite which was awesome. Everyone really got to know eachother and it seemed lie a really good group! I met a girl called Naomi who I cliced with straight away and we had pulled the short straw and ended up in the freezing cold, shed-like room outside! We literally froze that night, it was definately hard work having come from Australia!