Auckland, Waihike island, hot water beach, Matamata, Rotorua, Taupo, Waitomo, Raglan

Arrived in Auckland on possibly the easiest flight we've had yet. Unfortunately customs wasn't so easy. I declared our tent and walking boots, which meant Kennys boots had to be disinfected and they took the tent apart and did something to it too. Then, I decided not to declare a shell I had at the bottom of my bag, then chickened out that I would get caught so riffling through to find it, I was told it was fine. Eventually we got out of the airport, and the airport shuttle is there waiting, even get a wee discount, so on we go to Ponsonby backpackers to meet Nicole and Jonny. I was sooooo excited to see her. I had been counting down the days for the last month and it didn't feel real that today was the day!! I missed her a lot and now we were reunited. A very happy day :D We just sat in the garden most of the day, catching up on what we had both been doing the last year and 9 months, then got a great wee fish and chips for dinner. On arrival, we bought a BBH card, which cost $45 and gets you $3 off per night at BBH hostels and a $20 phonecard. Really good value and will save us a fortune. If they were all like Ponsonby, it would be great.

Having not really researched what to do in Auckland, the next day we just hopped on the ferry to Waiheke Island. The ferry took about an hour, and even saved some money with our BBH cards already. Once there, we discovered it's pretty quiet and laid back. We got straight on the first bus from the terminal and jumped off at Palm Beach. Me and Nicole collected a few shells for necklaces, Jonny and Kenny looking for crabs. Got lots of nice pictures :) then headed over a hill to a more secluded beach... It was secluded because it was a nudest beach. So we moved on. Next we headed to the main town on the island to get some lunch in a lovely Thai place overlooking the beach, get some info on what we could do the rest of the day and get something to put on my monster coldsore! So off we headed to Cable Bay Winery for some wine tasting; yummy. A nice wee walk through the countryside to get there, and greater by beautiful views of the bay from the winery. The guy hosting the wine tasting didn't really have a clue, but at least we knew a little about wine from the last time we did it and Canada, and Nicole and Jonny knew a little bit about the processes from working on the vines. Between us and the leaflet, we filled in the gaps. The wine was really nice tho. We forgot to get a picture of us wine tasting, so we got another free sample 'to make the picture look better.' From the winery, we decided to walk back to the ferry terminal. Beautiful countryside, lots of sheep, a few horses, lots of pretty birds. Not a full day on the island, I was outnumbered by three people who like to take it easy in the morning, 'no rush.' Got back in time for dinner, stopping by the supermarket on the way, where I got refused alcohol. REFUSED!!! When I get asked for ID at home, I think, 'woo hoo, they think I'm young' but of course you get served when you show ID. I show my driving license in New Zealand and they saw no, only passport. Not impressed. So that night consists of only one bottle of wine instead of two.

The next day was the start of our road trip. Jonny and Kenny headed off to pick up the wagon just after 8, and by 9.30, nearly check out time, they still weren't back. So me and Nicole get their stuff packed up, and check out, waiting patiently in the living room. By 10, they still aren't back and we're getting worried. It should have taken them about 30mins. At 11.15am, thy eventually arrive back. Bearing in mind, we needed to do shopping, and get to our first destination in the next few hours, we were a bit panicked. The Jucy wagon was really nice!!! It fitted four people plus our mountain of stuff, really well. Jonny piloted for the day, Kenny co-pilot. Nicole was the only one not on the insurance to drive, lucky her. So on we went to the Coromandel. Unfortunately we had to miss Cathedral Cove, which I heard was pretty nice, to make sure we got to Hot Water Beach in time for low tide. So what is Hot Water Beach? Exactly why it says on the tin. So you get to the beach, it just looks like any other, apart from in the middle of it, they are all these people, sitting in pools they have dug out, just in front of the rocks. So due to tectonic plate overlap, a this particular point, the distance between the surface and the centre of the earth is less. Resulting in hot water being pumped from the core. So you can dig a hole, (well Jonny and Kenny) with spades (borrowed from people around us) and hot water will flow into it. It's very surreal. The only problem is, getting the balance between hot and cold. Our first hole was right in the path of the hot water flow, and it was too hot to sit in. A little to far from the tide, so the cold water didn't flow from the sea. We tried to put up a sand wall to block the hot water, but it didn't work. Mission failed. Hole numbered two went a lot better, and we got to relax there for a while. Spent about 2 hours there in total, definitely worth seeing and not like anything I've ever experienced before. Back into the wagon we go, aiming to get ourselves a little closer to Matamata so that we can go to Hobbiton tomorrow. So we make it to a little town called Whaghamata. The caravan park was going to cost about $50, frig that. So we were all dying for the loo; pull up at the public toilets behind the I-site and there's a guy pointing at us then to the carpark beside. We pull up in the carpark, where it has a 'self-contained' sign. We could camp for free, happy days!!! We'd be laughing if every night was like this!! We even had a nice dinner of chicken curry with rice as the wagon had a cooker; this is definitely 'glamping' compared to what me and Kenny did in America, wouldn't have expected any less of Nicole :)

Day 2 of Jucy Wagon, we started by having a walk along the beautiful beach, picking up some cone shells so Nicole could make a necklace. Walked over some sanddunes, seeing lots of colourful flowers and the odd endangered bird. Then into the wagon we go to Matamata to go to Hobbiton. Me and Kenny weren't really that keen on going, and at $75 (couldn't wangle any discount no mater how hard we tried), we were even less interested. But we thought to ourselves, if we are gona do activities in the North Island, we'd rather do them with Nicole and Jonny rather than 50 others on the bus. So on we went, an it was really good. We were soo impressed. Seeing the hobbit holes just like the movie, learning about the films and finding out about all the crazy people obsessed with the movies (learning elvish, buying a gold ring and getting a helicopter to fly them over the mountains and throwing the ring out: to name a few stories), finding out about what happens on the sheep farm while they are filming and ending the day with a free drink in Shires Rest. Then I cheekily asked about a job and we got interviews (really random) but they needed people in December and we'd be travelling then. Would have been fun. Having spent a whole day in Matamata, we decided just to power on to Rotorua so we could be there and get started with activities first thing tomorrow. We stayed at Cosy Cottages holiday park, meant to be $65 but got them down to $40. (Jonny is abetted hagler than I am!) They had hot pools so spent an hour in them to relax, then made some very late dinner. They had these outside steamer pots, that you could put your food in to cook, that was heated from the ground, very cool!

Day 3 was spent in Rotorua, starting with a visit to a Maori village called.....
It was really good! They took us around telling us about their culture, when they arrived in New Zealand, the different tribes, the guides, the pink and white terraces, their place of worship, the hangi meal (food cooked underground), why they have these little funny face men all over the place (to scare away the bad). Then we watched a cultural performance, including the haka; these people can really dance and sing, I just sat there open mouthed. We were all soo impressed. But this wasn't just any village, it was geothermal one. So they had these huge pools of bubbling water (which they cooled slightly to bathe in), others just pretty to look at. They also had pools of bubbling mud, but not any you could get into unfortunately. A mud bath would be fun! To end, the guide took us to see Te Puia geyser. This was pretty cool!! Unlike others I've seen in Yellowstone and Iceland, this geyser was completely unpredictable but we were lucky enough to see it in full flow. So we paid $35 for this tour plus the geyser, whereas if you paid to see the geyser from the other side at the official entrance, you would have to pay $60. We definitely got a bargain there. That night we decided to get on the way towards Taupo, but knew we didn't have enough time to make it the whole way there. So we stayed at a DOC campsite for only $6 per person at a place on Ash Road, beside the lake so Kenny and Jonny could have a go at fishing. And so Jonny could get chatting to anyone and everyone in his legendary cheerful chatty manner. But this time it paid off.

Day 4 started with a trip to Kerosine Creek, a tip from Jonnys new friend. So we pull up in this deserted carpark and start walking along the riverside. All of a sudden, we see steam rising off the river. This must be it. So in we get! Sitting up against a drop in the river, a mini waterfall only a metre high, we all enjoy the hot water. It was soo relaxing, untouched and free. Plus there was no-one around. Soo we sat for a while, paddled, took some pictures, drank some water (accidentally, yuk!). Heated up from the crappy weather if the previous day, we got out and slandered down the path. (Curiosity got the better of us, as we'd seen a few people walk by and they hadn't come back.) next we come across another heated part, only this time it sits under a 3 metre waterfall. So in we get again for a wee swim around. Love finding the non-touristy places :) For lunch, I had an interesting combination in my bap; cheese, BBQ crisps and Nutella, yummy!! After lunch, we headed onto Taupo. We visited Huka Falls, a gorgeous high powered waterfall that has a jetboat visiting every once in a while. Played a few balls of golf; trying to get a hole in one from the shore onto a floating island in Lake Taupo. Didn't prove too successful but at least a Kenny and Jonny managed to get it onto the island. Tonight we managed to find a free campsite at Reid's farm. Always a bonus. Was by a river so out came the hand line fishing gear again, not successful this time. Tonight the boys made burgers; THEY WERE AMAZING!! :D

Day 5 started with a visit to Craters of the Moon; another geothermal area. $8 so might as well. Had a nice little walk, saw some craters, a lovely blue natural pool and steam spouting out in random locations. Not the most exciting activity but I've actually began to like the sulphur eggy smell. Strangely. We finished there within an hour then went to the Huka Hive, a place they sold lots of honey products and taught you about the production. The four gypsies arrive and taste every single honey there was!! None of us are really honey fans either. O well. Then got a few samples of wine and beer too. Lunch consisted of super noodles cooked up in the carpark. Although these are no ordinary super noodles; they come with five extra optional additions in the packet. Afterwards we debate whether to stay another night; it's crappy weather and Nicole doesn't want to get into any more hot water (the natural hot pools) so we start making our way towards Waitomo. As usual, we have no clue where we are gona stay and wing it. We saw a sign for free camping in a place Te Kuti, sheep shearing capital of New Zealand. Seems a bit like a ghost town, but we pull up and park behind Riverside Lodge pub anyways and get cooking and drinking; tonight's delicacy is Jagermaster!

Day 6 we are on our way out of Te Kuti, pulled up at public toilets and every Maori person we drive past gives us a rude gesture. Mustn't have liked the look of our big green and purple Jucy Machine. A bit intimidating; needless to say we were glad to get out of there. Make it to the Legendary Black Water Rafting Company in Waitomo early enough, around 10.30am, but they don't have space for us until 3pm. That's a bit crap. But where there's a will there's a way. We made to get another bargain; the black water rafting at the kiwi exp prices and a half price walking tour if the Rukuari cave. So we did the cave walk, which was really interesting and went a long way to explaining why New Zealand is soo hilly; because half the time there are caves underneath, some discovered, some not. (Also because of the tectonic plates.) after the walking tour, we had a bit of lunch before our trip,
We choose the Labirnyth tour, as Nicole didn't fancy abseiling (which was included in the Abyss) and she definitely didn't want to climb. (The main aim of the Odyssey.) So we sign our health declarations, have a chat with the guides, then get kitted out in our gear; wetsuits, with a jumper underneath, wetsuit booties and then white boots. We pose for a few pictures then we hop in the van back towards the Rukuari cave, only this time taking a different entrance. But before we get there, we need to choose our tubes; size depending on the size of your arse. Then a wee practice run for our waterfall jump in the cave; we jump backwards in our tubes from a wooden boardwalk into a freezing cold stream below=SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM. But absolutely hilarious, seeing everyone's faces as they did it. So on we go to the cave, how if you had of walked passed the entrance, you never would have seen it. That's because it was partly in a stream and we had to squeeze through a tiny entrance to get into the cave. So the first part we walked through, in complete darkness, just putting our head-torches on when they said. Then came the first backwards tube jump. Kenny: success, Jonny: success, Kirstie: success, Nicole: flop!! She ended up missing her tube on the way down and just bum flopping into the water. THE FUNNIEST THING!! Couldn't stop laughing. And that was the easy jump. Anyways, on we go, squeezing through tiny gaps, singing 'in the jungle', tubing along the calm stream with arms linked on legs (like a sit down conga line and a great way for me to get Kenny back: scare the crap outa him by near tipping him, the joys of wanting to go first Kenny!) and of course, starring at the glow worms on the roof of the cave, which just looks like a starry sky, aww. (When in fact glow-worms are just maggots with a lightbulb on their ass.) We did the waterfall jump, loved it. Nicole managed to stay in her tube this time. The last part consisted if turning off all headlights and trying to find our way out in the dark, soo cool. Made it out in one piece, got a shower (amazing!! Because we hadn't had one in 3 days) and then got free tomato soup and bagels so didn't have to buy any dinner, woo hoo. I must say, that has def been the highlight of New Zealand so far. Eventually we leave the caves place, about 7 hours after we arrived and we him and ha about where we are going to stay. The shops are ages away so we asked if anyone wanted drink tonight drink, no-one says anything, so onto our carpark we go, so Jonny can do one of the best nz short walks. We are driving back towards it (having I totally drove 10mins in the other direction towards drink) and Nicole perks up,
'what will we do tonight without drink?!' So re-route again, drive 15 mins opposite direction to Otortamga for drink, and end up staying at Kiwi Camp (has a kiwi house next door). We paid the next day, only for two people tho, oops.

Day 7 and the final day. We head back to Auckland via Raglan. Now you'd think we would have gotten up a little earlier knowing the van had to be back by 5pm, but no, this is a very relaxed trip. Raglan consisted of a stop by a waterfall, a very pretty one at that, and to look at a few beaches. Seemed like a nice wee place tho. Then powered on to Auckland. In the meantime I'm saying to Nicole, 'do you not think you should get your stuff packed up?'
'Nah, we'll have plenty if time when we take it back.'
The vans due back at 5pm, we arrive back at 5.01pm, and they drop me off to stall while they go fill it up with petrol. With showing the guy the broken tv and them packing, we're there for another 20 mins and then started the disastrous 15 min walk up hills to the hotel. I near died!!! It was the worst rucksack, plus backpack, plus handbag walk I've done yet. But we get to the hotel and it's nice than goodness. Headed out for a dominos dinner, some more wine and left drunken Skype messages to Natalie, Helen and Lucinda, oops.
The next day was an emotional one... Having to say bye to Nicole and Jonny. We'd only just been reunited after a year and 9 months and had to say goodbye again :( hopefully won't be as long until we see them this time. Thanks for an amazing trip!! :D