Hi Everyone I am so behind with this journal- we have been travelling round on our kiwi bus since we left Auckland and literally haven't stopped, heading from one place to the next until now where we have spent a few days in one place! ITs been soo good, but i have so much to tell you and so little time thanks to the expensive internet over here- but i will try and get going! After we left Paihia and Cape Reinga which is the furthest north we headed south to auckland and switched drivers. Our new driver Little John was brilliant, he made us all swap tickets so we would get to know everyone which we all cringed at but it really worked and our bus group bonded so well- there are 15 on our bus and 10 of us get on so well, ( the others aren't english or weird!). So we headed from Auckland to mercury bay which is on the east coast. On our way we stopped at Mt Eden and took some pictures looking across Eden Park where the rugby world cup will be held, and we had some amazing views of all the volcanoes in Auckland. We then had a relaxing drive to Mercury Bay which was so beautiful, we went straight to hot water beach where you dig holes in the sand and hot water bubbles up and you can soak in it, unfortunately we were there a bit late and LJ only had a dustpan to dig the hole with so the tide came in too fast and soaked everyone and it was freeeeeeeezing! so we had to admit defeat. We then went on a walk through the woods and came out at cathedral cove which was so pretty- a little private beach and this arch in the rocks- unfortunately its been a roll up the jeans job because its been so cold and only LJ and some mad guy decided the sea was worth a dip- its like 10degrees in the water! nutters! That night we just crashed out at our hostal and we all played cards ( these towns are sooo tiny and there is nothing and nowhere to go!!). Rotorua tomorro!