So where did I leave you? Ah yes, Auckland. I'd booked myself on a nice little ferry tour to an Island off the coast. Raignatoto (not at all how it's spelt, but my memory fails me) is an active volcano and can be reached in about 20 minutes from the harbour. The island was formed just 600 years ago and 'only' errupts every 1,000 years or so. So I thought I better go sooner rather than later...

Esentially it is a bit pile of rocks. I (wisely) chose to go up on the 4x4 vehicle (tractor with disney-theme-park-style-trailor behind) which saved me a few hours walk in the midday sun, I'd upload the pictures, but as I say: rocks. But, the views from the top were stunning and you could look down into the crator, which, to it's credit, was pretty nice and full of lush greenery. There was a plaque with information abou those that had climbed to the summit in the 19th centuary, a woman commenting on how her long dress and boots had been ripped to shreads. Now, I don't like to pass judgement, but a long dress? On spiky rocks? 250 meters up? Really??

Met a lovely Japanese girl at the summit who (made the fatal mistake) of asking me what time the bus thing was taking us back. I might have told her the wrong time... yeah, she missed it. Cue feelings of guilt. I did make it up to her by pointing her in the right direction to the pretty park. Guilt free again.

Keep meaning to go to the Sky Tower (that tall building in all these pictures) but the rain started, so a trip to the top would have been wasted. Another day perhaps...

The rest of the day included free food from the hostel bar, packing and the return of the mighty jet lag.

xx