New Zealand 1 - Auckland & Rotorua

Hey everyone, as promised, on with the story! So I found Alex and Nisha at Santiago aiport in Chile, and was a little disappointed with their lack of enthusiasm for seeing me after i'd trudged around the airport looking for them... that is until I realised they were both horrifically hungover!

The flight was reasonably painless, was very pleasing to have little digital things in the back of the seat in front - i managed to stave off my cravings for chick-flicks by watching "The Proposal" (classic trashy film where you know exactly what's going to happen) and some oscar wilde play film with colin firth in (obviously it was colin firth who swayed that one as i can't even remember the title!)

We arrived at 3.45am local time, and I said "gracias" to the guy at the passport desk, who politely informed me that they speak english here! We soon realised that everything is very easy in new zealand - despite the crazy hour of the morning, we managed to get cash and get a bus to town and dropped off pretty near to the hostel. Luckily the hostel didn't offer us anywhere to sleep (we weren't booked in until the night time) so we staved off jet lag by exploring Auckland until a sensible bed time.

To be honest, the first day wasn't overly productive... but we did discover Auckland museum which is excellent should anyone happen to be there!

Day 2

For our second day in Aucklandwe took a short ferry across to Rangitoto island which was formed 600 years ago by a volcanic eruption (so pretty new really - but apparently scientists think the eruption was a one-time thing...) we climbed up to the top of the summit to get awesome views of Auckland across the water (see photos!)

Day 3

We travelled to Rotorua on a kind of tour bus - the driver didn't stop commentating all the way! Mostly it was about farming in new zealand which wasn't all that thrilling (or indeed different to the UK...) but we stopped off at Waitomo Caves for a look around. The caves themselves were OK, but the highlight was a trip on a boat in the pitch dark tos ee the glow worms in there. The guide pulled the boat along using a slightly crazy system of string above her head and we peacefully drifted through while the worms glowed brightly above our heads! it was kind of like an animal night sky! very beautiful!

Day 4

We went to Wai-o-tapu thermal wonderland which was pretty cool - this is a geothermal area opened up to the public - the water everywhere is steaming and often really crazy colours because of different elements in the water! There was also a big geyser that goes off once a day but they kind of cheat by putting something in it in the morning so that it will go off when there is a big crowd to see it! It doesn't seem quite the same somehow! (see photos!) This however was our first taste of the crazy shuttle bus system... they were to pick us up outside the YHA - great! unfortunately we were then toured around the city for about an hour picking up others... and its really not that big! they really just don't do everyone meeting in one central point here!

Next - off to Taupo!

xx