Well after sleeping for what seemed like a million years, I woke up feeling so much better and ready to have a look around Paihia. We had chosen a lovely hostel that was extremely homely and had so many friendly people. Steve and I spent the day laying on the beach and then watched a film in the tv room before going to bed! A very exciting Saturday night, but we both needed the sleep.

The next day was another day of sunbathing around by the pool with everyone and then we went to the very much loved Jam Night. We had made friends with a group of people who had been staying at the hostel for a few months, and apparently Jam Night is the place to be on a Sunday. So off we went and had another brilliant, but messy night! Jam Night was great, with a lot of dancing to the live band, Charlie singing with the band and playing random games where we got to stick bits of paper on our heads.

The next day we didn't feel too bad and had another relaxing day around the pool. Needless to say that this is how the next week in Paihia went - sunbathing, drinking, sometimes too much!! Quiz night in Base springs to mind, with too much Tequila and Dave coming to the rescue by giving me a firemans carry home! Talking with everyone on the patios of our dorms in the warm balmy night air! Ah pure bliss, don't think I've ever felt so relaxed in my whole life. However, my trip was quickly coming to an end, and I really didn't want to leave at all! :-(

I was meant to end my trip by going to Thailand for a week and a half, but because of all the trouble they had there, I had to stay in New Zealand. I was a bit gutted, as was really looked forward to seeing Thailand, but was quite pleased in a way, as it meant I got to spend more time with all the amazing people I had met at my hostel. Really didn't want to leave.

My last few days in Paihia were spent just chilling out with everyone, Steve took me out for a slap up meal and to a cinema that looked like it belonged in the 30's. We also went to a club called Bonfire one night where Steve got chucked out, because he 'was unstable on his feet!' We couldn't stop laughing because it was Naomi and I that were the drunk ones. Then for some reason on the way home I thought it would be a good idea if we all went for a swim! Great idea! Totally ruined my watch! :-(, but it was funny at the time. Other days were spent exploring together. As Steve hadn't really used his car since we had left Rotorua, we decided to go for a drive one day to Cape Reinga, which is right at the top of the North Island. Was a very long drive, but was so so worth it when we got there. The views were absolutely breath taking. We went to the sand dunes that looked unreal seeing them in NZ, as they looked like they should belong in Africa, they were amazing, but was like walking on fire! Hot, hot, hot! Steve was very brave and walked right to the top and over the other side, whilst I stayed down the bottom sun bathing! The better idea I think, because when Steve came back down he looked like a lobster! On the way home we stopped off at 90 mile beach, and it really was that. It went on forever, but didn't compare to the 90 mile beach that I stood on in Australia. Was still beautiful though.

I left Paihia on the 11th December, after spending a week and a half there. The Bay Adventurer hostel really did feel like home, and really wish I could have stayed there a lot longer. Paihia is so pretty and I had the best time there being a roomie with Steve and spending time with Kate, Hannah, Dave, Richie, George and everyone, who all made my time in Paihia amazing and will miss lots and lots.

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