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Back on the road. This time I'm on a hop on hop off tour but don't have much time for hopping off. Plan is to cover north and south island in about 23 days. Left Auckland on Tuesday morning. Spent Monday getting sorted and exploring the city, not very inspiring so glad to be travelling again. Once out of the city heading south you very quickly understand how New Zealand has gained a reputation for stunning scenery. It really is breathtaking. Rolling hills and mountains everywhere, and it is so green and lush. Our first night as Mercury Bay, a quiet town on the east coast, unfortunately the weather was not too good, rain in the morning, cold and overcast in the afternoon which put pay to the kayaking we were hoping to do. Next day I was up fairly early and went for a little run on the beach (ankle still playing up a bit). Saw and amazing skeleton of a fish, it was about half a metre long and had a big head with a face and loads of teeth. Don't know what it was but wouldn't like to meet one int he flesh. We then headed of to our next destination of Rotorua, one of the hightlights of the north island. On the way we stopped off at Matamata for lunch this is the filming location for Hobbiton, Lord of the Rings (completely wasted on me not having seen the film or read the books). At Rotorua we went luging, kind of go carting down a long windy road, quite hillarious, I even managed to 'get air' off of one of the hills! Rotorua is known for its hot springs, it's name means 'even smelling' which is very appropriate as the town smells of sulphur. Hot springs occur when water, beginning as fainfall seeps through the earths crust and is heated by contact with hot rocks. A geyser erupts when an underground pond of water is heated to boiling point and flashes into steam violently expelling the water held above the flashpoint .. The geyser here reaches 15 metres - but it is a very smelly place.
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Ruth I loved it there (apart from the smell!) Did you go to the outdoor springs to bath in? (sure there is a proper name) Really good fun. Did the luging as well. Feeling very jealous now. Freezing here, no luging and no sign of Hobbits either. Hope you enjoy the rest of NZ Ruth xx
Yvonne I would just love to go to New Zealand! Pity you couldn't look up Kylie - ex Liss Runner whilst you are there! You must watch Lord of the Rings on your return it is absolutely magical!!!! Glad you are still running - but I am sure with all the other activities you are doing you must be staying pretty fit - hey!!!! Keep them coming. Yvonne x
jill and Hugh We are now just ahead of you as we arrived today in the South Island and are heading to Nelson tomorrow,Really enjoying the Kiwi experience! Jillx Jill I'm going to be in Nelson soon, not sure of the date but certainly within the next 5 days. It is funny you say you are enjoying the Kiwi Experience because that is the name of the tour I am on.... my bus is Kiwi Experience. Would be great if we could grab at least a coffee together... how long are you hear for again?
Jill Peters Anne. I am so guilty of not contacting you for such long while, but things have not been good for me! Been made redundant!!!! Anyway, sounds like you are having an absolute great time and Sarah said that you are thinking of extending your trip to visit S.America. Toms in Aussie and realling enjoying himself - he loved Asia (now an avid diver)!! and finding Aussie quite expensive compared to Thailand. He's off to NZ on 15th Dec. Says he wants to work in Aussie and going to look for employer to take him on!!!! You are going to have so much to tell us when you eventually return but sounds amazing. Enjoy, enjoy and take it all in!!! Love Jill xxxxx Hi Jill Really sorry to hear about the job. New year, new start though eh? I've just got back into Auckland and guess what ..... Tom and Dom have just left! I'm staying in Nomads which is where they have been last couple of days, I know this because they have been in a dorm with Chris, a guy from Portsmouth that was on my Kiwi Experience trip, what a small world! It's a shame I didn't get to see them but as I'm travelling around NZ with Katie over the next 3 weeks perhaps we will see them then. Hope you have a good Christmas xx
Sara Hi Anne, been having a quick catchup on your blog, sounds like your having an amazing time. Sent you an e-mail some weeks ago, guess you didn't get it? Hear Kt will be joining you soon, sure you'll have a great time together. Take care.SaraJill - sorry to hear about your job, hope you'll sort something out soon. Hi Sara I did get your email. Can't wait to see Katie. It looks like we have managed to extend her visit by another week so she will have 3 weeks with me which is great. Hope you're not too badly affected by the snow.
Jill We are now in Te Anau and off to Doubtful Sound tomorrow. Our plans are: Dunedin Dec 7- 9, Mount Cook Dec 9-11 and Christchurch Dec 11 -13. Dec 13 sees us returning to UK!! All good things come to an end!! Will keep our eyes open for the green bus and hope our paths cross soon. Jill and Hugh I'm pretty sure we are staying in Dunedin on 8th. Just for the night. I will staying in either Base, Nomads or YHA hostel. Have you got a mobile I can call you on? My number here is 02102594151. Be great to see you.
Jill Now in Dunedin, moving on to Mt Cook tomorrow. Will try to ring you. We're at the Scenic Hotel Souther Cross in High Street if you want to leave a message for us!!