Sam's Trip

Today I was meant to go WhiteWater rafting, but because the river was being stupid I couldn't go.

Instead Tara and I walked around Rotorua, we ended up buying stuff that we may need in Taupo.

We spent some of the afternoon in the Thermal Park near the hostel. It was weird. All these pools just steaming up all over the place. It looked really weird too like a giant cloud just coming out of the ground... Very Odd

It was funny - Rotorua smells really badly like Sulphur because of all the thermal activity and because Tara and I got drunk last night - she was dead hungover and ended up vomiting in the street.

On the night though things calmed down a lot and we went to a Maori cultural night. This was ace although it did seem a bit staged, which I guess it was.

We saw how the Maori people would have lived 300 years ago and we also saw people doing the Haka and Poi, and singing some traditional Maori songs.

Then we ate traditional Maori food, that was prepared in a Hangi, a ground oven.

It was good.

On the way home every nationality had to sing a song from their homeland - then we drove around a roundabout singing " she'll be coming round the mountain".

It was a really good night

Today I got teh bus to Rotorua from Auckland.

Before we left Auckland we took a side trip to Mt. Eden, which I meant to do before I left Auckland last time - I just never got round to doing it then.

It was pretty cool, you could see both of Auckland's harbours - which was good.

After a quick photo stop we set off to our next stop Waitomo.

Waitomo is famous for one thing - Caves, well 2 things - caves and glowworms.

At Waitomo I had a choice, see the glowworms or go black water rafting.

I chose seeing the glowworms as it was cheaper and I didn't fancy wearing a wetsuit... the glowworms were cool though and the caves were massive. I was over 40 metres underground at one point.

3 hours later we set off for our final destination - Hot Rocks backpackers in Rotorua.

In Waitomo a weirdo called Darren latched onto me - and ended up staying in the same dorm as Tara and I (Tara had decided to come to Rotorua as there was NOTHING in Waitomo).

Anywho weirdos aside for the moment Hot Rocks wasn't the best place I've stayed in so far - Tara and I ended up ditching the room and escaped to the Lava bar where we bumped into Beth and Vicky from Paihia along with their friends from the Stray bus - we ended up getting quite drunk with them!!!

3rd

Today I travelled back to Auckland - there is nothing to report here as the driver didn't really comment on the journey... I went to see The Da Vinci Code - it wasn't great but I've defo seen worse... Thats all I've done really, and tommorrow is just an odd jobs day so I wont have much to comment on then either

4th

Today I bought a jumper and an umbrella - and I also bought my onward bus pass.

I head to Rotorua tomorrow morning on the Magic Bus - and on my own as Tara has finally caught on that I don't want to travel with her anymore. She is heading to Waitomo where the glowworms are.

I have to go and pack my stuff as I'm up early - and my proper adventure is about to begin!

1st June

Wow the start of a new month - I've been in New Zealand for 7 days now - but have been travelling for 9... very confusing.

I went on the Kings tour today so I was up very early at like 6:40 or so... just wrong - was a really good day though.

We wentright up to the top of New Zealand. On the way we stopped at another forest - the Puketi Kauri Forest - so more big trees. Then we stopped at a shop/ cafe called the Ancient Kauri Kingdom - they sold things made out of the Kauri found in swamps...

I wrote a postcard to send at Cape Reinga - the most Northern Postbox in the North Island.

Cape Reinga was beautiful. It is a very spiritual place for the Maori people as they believe that this is the place where their souls leave the Earth and go back home to Hawikiki the ancestral home.

We had lunch on the beach at Tapotupotu Bay, before heading back to Paihia via 90 mile beach... after driving down a river of quicksand we had a quick sandboarding lesson and was let loose on the dunes - they were well high and I was of course the first one to actually wipe out and hurt myself - I was bleeding and everything!!!

After driving down 90 mile beach for a bit - we headed back to the road and straight for Mangonui where we had the "best fish and chips in New Zealand" - the fish was good but the chips were only OK!!!

I had a really good day but it was very tireing doing nothing - am up early again tomorrow as I have to be at the Wharf 20 minutes before the boat leaves...

2nd June

Went on the Kings boat trip around the Bay of Islands today.

We went all the way out to the Hole In The Rock, on the way we saw quite a big pod of Dolphins - some people swam with them I opted against it as I want to do it in Kaikoura or somewhere in Summer, winter might be a bit too cold!!!

We also saw a few seals on some rocks - they really quite smelled.

The Bay is really nice - hopefully I should have some good photos - none of the dolphins though - they were too quick!

In the afternoon I went to Russell - was a bit boring though - saw the oldst Church in New Zealand though - Christ Church.

I did a few odd jobs today too so it was a very full day - am back off to Auckland tomorrow though - so it should be a bit quieter!

29th May

Today I got the Magic Bus up to Paihia in the Bay of Islands, about 4 hours North of Auckland.

On the way we stopped at a couple of places on the west coast of Northland. Matakohe where the famous Kauri museum is was one of the places. "Unfortunatley" I didn't gp to the museum but I did have afternoon tea, and I had the most amazing Blueberry muffins ever!

We then stopped at a place called Waipoua Kauri Forest. This is quite a spiritual place for the Maori people as Tane Mahuta is here.

Tane Mahuta is a the largest Kauri tree growing today. It is well big! Something like 17 metres in circumference. Very Big - but still only a tree.

When we were at this forest the stupid bus broke down so we had to wait for a mechanic to come and fix it - 2 hours in a forest - Oh joy!

Hokianga harbour was the next stop, but just for a photo - this is where the Maori first came into New Zealand - it was quite pretty - what with the sun reflecting off the water.

We finally got into Paihia just as the sun was setting- and we got a free drink and BBQ because of the bus breaking down.

It was a good day in the end...

30th May

Today I just did Chores, washing and stuff and emailing people back home - not much at all. I just chilled out.

31st May

Today I walked around the bay to Waitangi. This is where the Treaty Of Waitangi happened (amazingly). This is very important to the Maori people.

I visited and walked around the grounds - which were nice, I even had lunch on a beach.

Whilst I was there I went into the treaty house and looked around... Its meant to be decorated like when it was originally lived in - there was some well creepy dummies in it though!

There is also a replica of the canoe the Maori people used to get to New Zealand back in the day. There is also a meeting house on the grounds - Te Whare Runaga.

I think I took some good photos.

I also booked my trip to Cape Reinga and the dolphin cruise around the bay.

It was a good day all in all, it was really peaceful and it was really good weather.

Anyway I'm up early in the morning to go to Cape Reinga.