We started the day with a visit to the top of Mt Eden for 360-degree views over Auckland. It's a dormant volcano, and the site of a pretty funny April-fool's prank involving students (obviously), burning tyres and the population of Auckland fearing an impending eruption. We headed to the Coromandel Peninsula, stopping to trek down to Cathedral Cove for some time in the sun. Please note: New Zealand in early November is much like Cornwall in early May - the sun...

With the sights of Auckland exhausted (honestly) it was up to Paihia where you can visit the site on which the Treaty of Waitangi was signed and then lost in translation. It's pretty well done, with some good displays and an enormous canoe that was built to mark the centenary of the Treaty. The big attraction in Paihia is the day trip to Cape Reinga. this included taking in 90-mile beach (which is a lot less than 90 miles long) where we discovered what a 'sweepe...

So I managed a whole 10 days between flights this time - not bad eh? Spent the first day in Auckland being guided around by someone I met in Australia. We took in Viaduct Harbour as well as braving the heights of the Sky Tower, before heading out to One Tree Hill (currently bereft of its tree). In the afternoon we headed along the coast to Mission Bay which, essentially, is pretty similar to Bondi in Sydney but not as crowded (and nowhere near as wwarm). Spent t...

Bula again - and trust me, if you ever come to Fiji all you will ever hear is bula-this and bula-that. It's pretty cool, and it's beter than that look people give to you if you try to speak to them on Oxford Street. After the cultural rollercoaster of the last few days some serious sun was in order - cue Beachcomber Island. What can I say? It was a very sunny, very small island, with plenty to eat and an 80+ person dorm. On the second day there a couple of u...

Bula! And let me start by telling you that Australia is not hot; Fiji is. On the bright side, the customs people seem to take no interest in what you actually write on the forms when you enter, so there was no need to go sterilising boots etc. Straight on to the new bus on the first morning here and off to the Nadi markets. It's funny how broadly people will smile if they think you're going to buy something! You can get a lot of good fruit for your tourist doll...