Hey you guys!!!

Sorry not blogged for a few days but i haven't been able to get on internet!! I'm on limited time now too so will have to be quick and no time for more photos just yet i'm afraid!! So my morning in Auckland was spent sightseeing, shopping and visiting the Skytower. I joined my next group at 1pm which was quite strange as i was soo used to spending time with the same people on East Coast... Anyway, we travelled up to Pahia in the Bay of Islands and it was pouring with rain!!! When we got to our motel there was a mini cylone (very wet and windy but not too bad) - GREAT!!! What a start to a trip when i was missing my Aussie family already!! I soon made some great friends tho and am spending the majority of my time with Meg, Sally and Emily (all English) and Tommie who is American... They are all great and we are having lots of fun! So we had dinner cooked for us and then we went into town for drinks... The next day we found our Day in the Bay cruise hadn't been cancelled so headed off to view some of the 144 wonderful islands (in the rain initially - not so great!)... We saw loads of dolphins that were swimming really close to the boat and playing in front of us for ages!! We couldn't swim with them tho as they had a baby :( The weather picked up and the trip was beautiful!! We went for more drinks on the evening after a cheeky bbq beforehand... The next morning we left Pahia and headed to Rotorua - stopping off to see some waterfalls and things along the way...We had a Maori experience that evening where we stayed in their home for the night... We had to go through the traditional welcoming ceremony and sing to them as a gift haha! We then became part of thier family and all stayed in a big hall/temple thing that night on matresses on the floor with sleeping bags! Its was sooo interesting to hear about their culture..... We also managed to fit it a walk and trip to the pub lol!! We drove to Rotorua the next day and had a tour of the thermal village.. We saw a fab show where they were dancing and singing and they performed the Haka! A few of us then went Zorbing - i did the wet one with Meg - Sooooo funny!!!! We got back just in time to be taken to Hells Gate Spa where we relaxed in mud baths, sulpher spas and had a 1 hour massage - heaven! We then went back to get ready and go for a meal at The Shed. That evening we had bought some sparking pink wine and drank it in the hot tubs on the balcony of our rooms!! Bliss!!! Now THIS is backpacking at its best!!!! lol!!! We also found the trampoline whilst slightly intoxicated which was hilarious!!!

We've driven to Wellington today via Taupo (where Sally did a bungy).....

Anyway... gotta go shower as we are going out in Wellington soon...

Hope you are all well.....

Love you loads xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx