Day 1

After our 7am wake up call we all jumped on the bus to travel to Rotorua. En-route to Rotorua we stopped off at Karangahake Scenic Reserve where we explored the native bush-clad gorge. On our walk we follwed the river crossing two swing bridges and then we went through 3 raliway tunnels which were used in the Old Gold mining days. It was a really good walk, there were stunning views. The tunnels were really funny too as they were pitch black. We got some awesome photos here. After our hour walk we jumped back on the coach and stopped off in Paeroa for some lunch. After lunch we then went straight on to Rotorua. On the bus we had booked accomandation at Base where everyone was staying, we also booked Zorbing and a Tamaki Tour. When we arrived in Rotorua we dumped our bags in our 12person dorm and headed straight for Zorbing. Me and Loz did the Zorbing, Claire was too scared! Basically it was a huge inflatable ball which was filled with some water and we rolled down a really steep hill which lasted about 40seconds!! It was so much fun though, we keep trying to stand up in it, but there was no hope! We got absoluty soaked, we laughed the whole way down and after had loads of photos taken after! After Zorbing we then went back to the hostel to get ready for our Maori Night!

Once changed we had time for a quick beer in the bar with friends and then the bus came ready for our night out. The bus driver was so funny, he said Ki Ora (which means hello, goodbye, full of life, how are you etc in Maori) in 58 different languages! When we arrived there was a re-creation of a tradional village from the 1600's. And we saw a tradional challenge (which determines if you come as friend or foe) as we entered on to the Marae. After looking around the village and seeing how the Maori people used to live we then went and saw a concert which had songs in it, Poi Dances, Weaponary and the Haka. It was so good it looked as if the Haka really hurt when they were slapping themselves!! We have it all on video!! There eyes were really scary too, where they stick their tounge out too, you will see from the photos!! From here we then went to dine on a buffet feast of tradionally prepared Hangi which is a meal steamed in the ground on Hot Rocks. The food was lovel we had a lamb dinner follwed by dessert! It was so nice having a Sunday Dinner that is one thing i have been craving!! Once our meal was finshed we then had a closing cemory where they sang and thenheaded back to the Hostel. The bus journey home was hilarous, he had us singing Wheels on the Bus!! It was one of the best eveings we have had, and it was nice having everyone off our bus there too! When we all got back we all decided to go out in the Lava Bar which is right next to our hostel. We had a really good night, getting very drunk having too many shots!!

Day 2

Feeling rather hungover we had a lie in and then checked out at 10am. Tonight we were staying at Ken & Helen's house (Margerats cousins) in Pataruru. Our bus driver dropped us off in the town where they picked us up. They are both lovely people making us really Welcome. There house is huge, it was so nice having a comfortable bed!! After catching up on what we had bben doing we had some lunch and then Ken took us for a drive around to see some nice views. We went to Blue Springs where the bottled water is made and then went for a nice walk in a native bush. It was really nice! When we got back to the house we all colapsed on the settee and fell a sleep for at least 2hours!! We were all so tired!! Once we woke up Ken and Helen then started tea. Ken cooked a BBQ while us girls chillded out having a glass of wine or two!! The BBQ was lovely it looked as if the 5000 were coming for dinner!! After dinner and more wine we were all so tired so we had an early night!

Day 3

So today i woke up early, well 8am and went had a good chat to Ken and Helen while Claire and Loz still had some zzz's!! Once i had breakfast we freshend up and then headed out to see some more sights! We first went to Saint Faith's Anglican Church where we had a look around. It was a realy nice church and when you sat down in one of the windows it looked like God was walking on water! After the Church we then went to Hell's Gate which is a Waiora Spa. It was a realy good place to go we dipped our feet in a mud pool and then did the bush walk which saw loads of differnt geothrmal pools such as Devils Bath and Ink Pots. It was crazy to think that some of the pools were up to 98degrees!! The smell was horrible though, it was like a million people had just let off!! It was like this the whole way round and at times it got really bad!! I felt really sick i had to hold my nose some of the way through!!

After Hell's Gate we then went for Lunch at a really nice Cafe and then we headed to see some Lakes where we had some nice walks! After walking and seeing some lookouts Ken and Helen then dropped us off back at the hostel. It was such a nice couple of days, i had a really good time. We didnt want to go back in the hostle we knew that!! On the way home we decided we were going to upgrade to a 4 bed dorm for an extra 2dollers!! Its well worth it cause the room is really nice!!

Tonight we are just chilling out watching TV ready for our 8am wake up call! Tomorrow we are Waitomo where we will stay for one noght before heading to Taupo.

xxxxxxxxxxx