Back in Auckland after a couple of weeks dashing around both islands we had a couple of days kipping at Debs & Phil's place like the lazy sods we are. We then had a day trip out to Mount Maunganui in the car with Debs passing through Paeroa on the way (where L&P soft drink is made that is "World Famous in New Zealand" apprently), along with gold mines and gorges on the way. Borrowed Phil's Honda ST1300 for a day's biking around the Coromandel ...

After our skydive at Lake Taupo we drove south over the desert road to New Zealand's capital Wellington. Spent a day wandering around the stunning Te Papa national museum containing among other things the iconic Britten racing motorcycle that a Kiwi built in his back yard and still an inspiration today. Went up the famous cable car and put our toe into its Friday night nightlife. Took the ferry (an ex-P&O Portsmouth to Cherbourg job!) across to the south isl...

Went south from Auckland to see the famous glow-worm caves at Waitomo. Heavy overnight rain however, meant caves were flooded and we had to find something else to do. Not far from the caves was a place that kept Angoran rabbits, these bloody huuuge things need shaving every 12 weeks or they die from overheating. Bunny shaving - we could hardly keep a straight face! We did however buy some fur so we can get a friend to knit Kym a hat. With the lack of action at...

Wahey! Landed in Auckland after a little stopover in Sydney. Going East for the first time and we've both got a little bit jet-lagged Zzzzzzz! Staying in West Auckland with friends who are impressed at the amount of sleep we are getting. Chilled out in a funky part of town called Devonport and been up and down loads of little hills (or volcanic cones as they should be called - Auckland has got 57 or something of them). Just a couple of miles out of town we vi...