1st sept

Kai ora! (mauri for hello!)

Well have just spent a short but very action packed 3 nights in New Zealand. Flew into Auckland and stayed at a hostel called Surf and snow. Got upgraded from a room without a bathroom to a triple room with an ensuite. Had views of the huge sky tower (like sydney centrepoint) which was just up the road. Got there at 1700 and was just getting dark. It was lit purple and yellow and looked very cool. The receptionist sold us a 2 day trip to Rotorua and Taupo. Had wanted to go there but didn't think we had time, she said we wouldn't be missing anything in Auckland, itinary looked very cool so was very excited. Tried to go for dinner at the revolving restaurant at sky tower but was booked up so had a buffet downstairs, was so full after that. We then went in the casino, both played blackjack and roulette, doubled our money and came out $60 up, could have been $150 but got greedy.

Thursday we were picked up at 0730 by the magic tour bus. It does a tour all round nz and you get on and off as you like or you can buy sections like we did. Dusty was our driver, bit of a charecter but good, a real kiwi who ended everything with ay! and constantly said sweet as! He neither had high opinions of Auckland and said the best thing we could do was get out of there. We sat up front with lots of space and good scenic views. Stopped first at Mt Eden park which is on the outskirts of Auckland and is its highest point also in the peak is a 50m deep volcanic crater. There is about 20 in Auckland. So had good views of the city which was nice. So after this headed for Rotorua which was 4 hours south. The scenery quickly changed with bright green rolling hills and cattle and sheep everywhere, apparently there are about 10 sheep to every person so about 30 million sheep. Also saw a really bright low rainbow which was very cool. Weather was mainly sunny bit drizly but definatly not freezing like we were expecting!

On the way we stopped at Waitamo to go to caveworld and go black water rafting. There were 8 of us going down with an instructor. After putting on very tight wetsuits, wellies and helmets we were taken accross a field in a mini bus. We walked up the valled collecting an inflatable tyre before going down some steep steps into the limestone cave. He sat us all down with our lights off so it was pitch black, he tried to petrify us all. We then walked through the cave, up and down rocks, crawling through sections with our tyre. We eventually got to deep enough water to float in our tyre, all went in a long line holding each others feet in the dark. It was all lit up with glow worms, which are maggots with illuminous poo! Was very cool, floated through sitting in these tyres until we came to a waterfall. Had steps to climb up then had to hold our tyre behind us and jump backwards into the water in a 2m drop in the dark! After that floated on our own till a 6m waterfall that he told us we had to jump off but there was a steep slide. Was a lot of fun but not for a spanish bloke who crashed into the wall gaining a very swolan ankle. The guide had to carry him back and it wasn't an easy walk. He said the bone was sticking out, it wasn't! Thought best not declare my job but did offer some painkillers. We enjoyed ourselves though but was freezing! Had hot soup after before getting back on the bus and went to Rotorua.

Rotorua is the geothermal capital of NZ WITH suplhor steam coming out everywhere smelling of eggs, stayed at a hostel called treks in a 4 bedded dorm. Not long after we arrived we got picked up at 1900 to go to the tamaki mauri village. There was a mix of ages and nationalities which was nice. On the way we were taught some mauri language and their beliefs. When we got there the mauri men came and did a welcome ceremony, they looked very agressive. AFTER they put on more shows and did the famous haka like the nz rugby team do before each match, was very good. Afterwards we had a buffet meal that had been cooked undergroung (hangi) was very nice and they then showed us how they did it. was a very good insight and the people seemed lovely. They seemed much more intergrated than the abboriginies of Oz.

On the bus on the way home each coountry person had to sing a song from their country, on a bus of 30 we were the only english. Couldn't think of a song we knew all the words to except London bridge so sang that, was very embarassing but funny! Woke in the night shouting at Paul it was time to get up, he hit me on the head to shut me up, again rather embarassing!

Friday got picked up at 0845, there were only 5 of us on the bus so had time to stop and take photos along the way, including Rotorua lake with some baby black swans before going to a bubbling boiling huge mud pool. We then went to lady knox geyser. Didn't listen very well to the explanation but looks like a volcano with some boiling water underneath and some slighly coolere water under that. Naturally it would erupt every 3 days as the water temps combine but they put soap in at the same time every morning to break the surface temp and cause it to erupt. The water went spouting up 20m and there was a rainbow, rather cool! We then went to Wai o tapu thermal wonderland which is the largest area of surface thermal activity with collapsed craters, cool and boiling pools of mud and water and steaming pools. We did a 3k walk around the different sights, it looked very cool but the steam stunk. It is said to be due to where underground steams are heated by magma from previous eruptions, the water gets so hot, up to 300 deg. The water absorbs minerals out of the rocks and passes them to the surface as sulphor (smelly steam). The water was lots of different colours due to the different minerals.

We then got back on the bus and stopped at a place called rocks and ropes, it was a huge assault course type place made of ropes. We just had 30 mins there so enough time to do the 2 challenges. We had to go first as were going jet boating after. Paul nominated me, that was fine as didn't have time to think about it. Was harnessed up, attatched to a rope and had to climb a 40ft telegraph pole with little pegs sticking out. Was swaying slightly with the wind, when got to the top had to stand on top of it, with a diameter of about 40cm was not easy! The bloke was shouting me how to do it and after a couple of minutes managed, didn't think was going to be able! So standing on the pole there was a trapeze bar about 2m away at my head level. Had to jump off and reach it, knew i wouldn't make it and didn't! freefell back down and was a bit shaky after that! Pauls turn next, he hadn't realised either what he was signing up for but had just watched me so now knew. Hes not very good at chessington rides let alone this! He didn't think he was going to be able to lift his leg up at the top[ but did, i thought it was hilarious! He jumped out and caught the pole and was swinging, the bloke was shouting 'hold on keep swinging', Pauls arms were killing him and kept saying to the man 'i'm going to have to let go'. He wanted the man to give him the go ahead to make sure he had the rope but he wouldn't, it was the funniest thing ever, i was crying! He eventually let go, straight after that we had to climb up a 50ft pole and onto a platform. Was still trembling but got attached to a rope and basically had to jump sidewards with feet together off the platform with a freefall of 21ft before swinging out, this was very cool, only $20 each what a bargain! I'm still laughing at Paul, got it on video, hes not laughing anymore though says i have gone overboard, i don't think so!

So then back on the bus to Taupo where we went on a 80k speedboat that did 360 turns getting everybody wet and constantly coming within inches of crashing but good fun! Also took us to the Huka falls which were very cool. While waiting for them to drop us back into town we went to the prawn farm nextdoor. You can fish for prawns but the reason why we went is that there is a golf driving range where you hit the balls accross the water trying to get a hole in 1 in one of the 5 rings. Had 5 balls each and Paul nearly got the furthest, thought it was just a game but had he got it in we would have won $500! Got dropped in Taupo with its snow peaked mountains before getting on the 5 hour bus back to Auckland, got back at 2030 and walked down the harbour, for the city of sails it was quite small.

So that was our trip to NZ, not quite the 3 weeks we had planned but we would have needed loads of money to do all the things they have. Had an amazing few days and was now ready for some Fijian sun!

Hope youre all still awake! Love and miss you all loads usxxxxxxxxxxx

Now in Fiji, having a rteally good time, will post the journal soon if possible! JUst stayed 2 nights at the top of the Yasawa islands in the blue lagoon, working good at our tan, very hot, all good. Havn't had a holiday like this for a while! Internet slow and expensive so will do when can! Hope all is well xxxxx