We got to Auckland on 29 June and stayed at an awesome place called Nomad's Fat Camel! We were only in Auckland briefly but really liked it, especially after having no shops or internet access in Fiji. I think we spent a good half an hour trawling through Borders (Ayesha hadnt read a book for a year and I think she's finding books facinating now.. not). We got the most soppy audio tape we could find and picked up our sexy toyota rental car the next day and drove to Tauranga, a town with a lovely bay and a great set of pubs an restaurants on the lake-front. We watched the repeat of Spain kicking Germany's butt and had brilliant food- a gorgeous steak sandwich, wow the new zealanders do meat well here.

The next day we took the road by the bay of plenty- a huge beach fenced by palm trees and firs (bizarrely) to Whakatane (apparently pronounced Fukatane..). We got bored there pretty quickly despite a museum trip and went to Rotorua, home of the geothermal and volcanic activity, and famously the smell of rotten eggs.

We loved Rotorua. On the first day we went climbing on an indoor wall. Cost only about 6 pound 50 and we practically got lessons. The harnesses weren't the most comfortable (I was wearing mine over white trousers concequently it looked like i was wearing Y fronts), but we hardly needed them because we were clearly pros. Ayesha, i think, is related to spider man. After we went to a place called Fat Dog for dinner (if anyones in Rotorua GO THERE!! Its a bit like Trof in Manchester. Serves amazing 'moo shakes'). I had my first taste of NZ Lamb. Sweet.

The next day we went to this area which basically constantly erupting. I have an awesome pic of a mud volcano which was bubbling away about a metre from me.. and there we sat in a geothermal pool, dragged up mud from the bottom and smeared it all over (my feet are silky smooth now. shame they are still retarded.) I however went too far and while having a mud fight I threw mud into Ayesha mouth who was eating it a fair time after..

That night we went to the Maori night. Awesome, they were doing the awesome tongue out eyes wide thing which you are NOT allowed to laugh too. I was nudging Ayesha to express some feeling without cracking up. The women were playing poi (to which i was looking very closely and will practice on mine when I can be bothered.. or not) and the men were in peak physical condition lets say, and also wearing a loin cloth. Sorry Jess that you couldn't have been there. None, however were as good looking as my lovely boyfriend, Matt ;) suck up.

We filled our belly with food that had aparently been cooked by hot rocks buried in the ground.. hmm i'm sure I spotted an oven.. and went back to Base Hot Rocks hostel where we were staying to hit the bar and catch the end of some Rugby. Had a good laugh and met some friends there. I can now do Sweedish hip hop dancing.. :os and the small world thing begins as one of the guys we talked to who was looking through my photos spotted Lucy, a girl we met in Fiji and exclaimed 'Oh my god is that Lucy! She's my next door neighbour!'.. the truman show..

We were sad to leave Rotorua this morning, but it was OK cos everyone else was leaving too. We passed by Lake Taupo, supposed to be stunning, but not when it is overcast and raining. We drove to an apres ski village called Ohakune but as there was no snow on the mountain, the place was dead. We ate at the place Orlando Bloom stayed when he was filming part of Lord of the Rings (aaarggghhhlllllgllll) - the area was where Frodo finally met Gollum was filmed - in what looked like the marshes. After finishing our chicken wings and nachos (we are actually going to come back 2 stone heavier) we decided to drive closer to Wellington where we cant wait to get to. The weather is too rainy rurally to appreciate the outdoors..

Tonight we are staying in Wanganui, a town on a river on the West coast of the island. We found a gem of a hostel- free internet, jacuzzi, pool, tv and dvd player (we just watched an old demi moore, tom cruise film (before he was a phycho)) and great hosts. Ayesha has fallen asleep on the sofa so I thought I'd better update.

Ideally I'd like to get to the Franz Josef glacier on South Island, but we have a long long way to go.. and more importantly our 6 hr long audio tape has finished (luckily we had Shakira, the Cranberries (!) and Pendulum to rave it up to) and I think Ayesh is fed up of driving. But hey, thats the point of the adventure, who knows where we'll be in 2 days time!! x