Onto the Kiwi Experience Bus nice and early. A bus of 31 18-31 year olds on the way to Hot Water Beach on the East coast of the north island. En route we stopped off at Mercury Bay and walked down to Cathedral Cove, where apparently scenes from Lord of the Rings were shot.

We arrived in Hot Water Beach by afternoon and sat around outside getting to know one another, along with a BBQ. It was so cold! As low tide wasn't until 9pm we walked down to the beach around 8pm to start digging holes and sit in the hot water (around 60 degrees), heated by geothermal activity in the cliff behind, cold sea water had to be added so it didn't burn.