1/8/9 Wanganui to Wellington After taking delivery of Jo's homemade cookies, Neil kindly drove us into Wellington which was a couple of hours drive via Bulls where we stopped to pick up a coffee. Thanks for the cookies Jo they were fab and eaten within no time. On the way into Wellington we passed the rugby ground known locally as "The Cake Tin" as thats what it looks like. We parked in the town centre and spotted our hostel. we left our bags in the ca...

30/7/9 River valley to Wanganui Phil woke up early to meet up with the rafting crew to see if the trip was going ahead. They had to await a decision on the water levels as it had rained heavily all night long. It was decided that the trip was on but lots of the people booked to go had been up all night drinking and only turned up at 9 .30!!! not impressed. The rafting trip was 20 km down the Rangitikei river down 10 grade 4-5 rapids as well as lots of smaller on...

29/7/9 River Valley Phil finally finished uploading our photos at 4am!!!Our bus was due to leave at 9.30am and we weren't packed so got up after a very few hours sleep to pack and jump on the bus. It was pouring with rain and very grey and cloudy as we left Taupo. There were no mountain views due to the weather so we were really happy for the clear weather we had over the last three days. Our driver Mar drove us to the Tangoriro National Park and intended to dro...

25/7/9 Waitomo to Taupo On leaving Waitomo we pulled into the Angora Rabbit Shearing Shed which does exactly as the name suggests and is a rabbit shearing shed. The rabbits are attached by their paws to what can only be described as a rack and turned whilst having their amazing thick fur sheared off!! The rabbit looked so helpless with its paws tied out stretched but apparently, according to the rabbit torturing ladies, they aren't bothered. The rabbits are mass...

24/7/9 Waitomo We joined a new bus with a driver called Dallas. the bus was alot more busy than our previous one and a lot younger crowd but all seemed ok. We travelled to Agropark where there was an optional agricultural show which basically consisted of lots of sheep and sheepdogs on the stage. It was pretty funny seeing all the sheep paraded onto the stage lokking thoroughly bored...poor things. The farmer was quite entertaining and he sheared a sheep and mil...