*sigh* Paihia.... where to start... well Pahia is one of the most popular places in the northland. People flock there in their thousands but thankfully we arrived before the start of the rush. Booked into a lil place called captain bobs this could only mean a good few days by the coast, not that the others havent all been good too! so as i said its a tourist area but its done in a really nice way,there are plenty of cafes and restaurants to feed all appetites and...

so onto keri-keri. keri-keri is one of those places which u happen to find my accident and wonder why ud ever want to leave. i think it started well when we got dropped off on the main road, disappeared into some trees and emerged into this glorious wonderland of quiet and calm. the buildings are all on one level and surround a lovely huge lawn. the main area has a well equiped kitchen, loads of reading, games, pool table, darts board and seperate tv/video room s...

so a quick bus ride throws us in to the area at the base of the 90mile beach. we stayed at ahipara, but due to a complete lack of public transport we got dropped off 14kms away and had to scrounge a life in someones camper van. but, it was all worth it when we fell out onto the front lawn of the hostel and were faced with the most gorgeous views of the beach (please see photos for this). so ensued a few days of relaxation in the most fantastic setting possi...

ok. ok i know ive been seriously slack so figured it was about time i got u all up to speed on my adventures around new zealand... i hope the photos have keep u salivating!! soooo.. opononi... i dont actually have any photos for here or anything to write as for the entire time we were here it rained, and i mean monsoon type of downfall. we managed to escape for a brief walk one morning before the next torrent. altho the walk was interesting as we stumbled up...

ok... part 2 of the fantastic barrier island trip... so, i think we'd got up to it being quiet and cold... hmmm... i guess the next bit would be the interesting visitors that turned up. one afternoon i was shivering in the shower block wondering if i had the balls to actually get undressed and suddenly the area is darkened as a line of hairy, big men carrying many things, odd looking things, pass the door... after a quick shower i head out to the kitchen ar...