Taupo is actually quite pretty when it doesn't rain. This was my first realisation on my second arrival here. A lake and mountains, that kind of thing (last time the rain and fog made it seem like Stars in thier eyes entrance tunnel). The sun was on my side this time through and thus there was no escape from the famous Tongariro Crossing, home of Mount Doom and many very strong legged hikers. That name says its all, really- during this hike I was filled with th...

Napier has black sand and rips in the sea that you can't swim in!!! Shock Horror! However, it is chock full of Art Deco buildings, as the whole town was wiped out by an eathquake in the 1930's and then all rebuilt in the same art deco style. I was really excited about seeing this, but in the concrete as it was, it seemed a little unreal and lacking in variety. Oddly i think it would have been more impressive mixed in with other styles to contrast its flat ice cr...

Yeeeeeee ha! I've been up to all sorts of death defying feats (don't worry mum, I'm ok!) in true NZ stylee! Zorbing was the first on the list of excitements as this is the only place in NZ that does it, and it was such a laugh-diving into a 9ft high clear rubber ball like a superhero, chucking in some water then launching yourself off down a hill! I couldn't stop giggling! And I've just come back from white water rafting and am a bit soggy! Got to wear a wesuit...

Ok, so the photo isn't quite of Whitianga, but the choice is so limited! Imagine a sandy beach with limestone cliffs which have been eroded into caves and you'll be about there! Its a beachy place here, which is great when its sunny but its been quite stormy and rainy here for the past couple of days. Nearly had a brush with the local wildlife on Stingray Cove- was happily swimming away in the warm sunshine (the only day of it) and then had a bit of a sunbathe...

I have learnt many things on my travels so far: 1. Do not let your ommlette be cooked by the French-the risk of salmonella is incredibly high and raw egg yolk is not my favourite food (but being British, it would have been impolite to refuse this luncheon offereing. I hope I make it to my next blog alive) 2. When sandboarding, do not let go when a gust of wind blows sand into your eyes half way down a huge sand dune. It is very fast, akin to toboganning. Fur...