So stop off to look at Mt Doom....yeah, that´s right, nerds. DOOM! From the beloved LOTR´s films. Oh yes, much happy-snapping there. (Mt Ngauruhoe). Drive through Tongariu National Park, have a peek at the 11m Huka falls.....no rafting here. I Let Sharan go to jump out of a plane and meet her later at the hostel.....i ain´t jumping out no plane, crazy foo´! But this is the place to do it.....great views of the lake.....bigger than Singapore and so big you can...

Head out early-ish on the big green bus. On the way, stop off so some people can `Zorb´ down a hill - thats where you get in a giantbeach ball. Opt out of that particular delight. Head instead, with much persuasion, to see the highly entertaining sheep show - see 19 different varieties, sheep dogs jumping off their backs, shearing, little lambs, a cow....the farmer doing the show was great fun, taking the mick out of everyone - very non-PC humour for the foreign...

On the road to Rotorua....hug a tree on the way, good karma! The main highways/motorways barely make it over 2 lanes....total! Nice. Stop in Paeroa, home of L&P, the ubiquitous soft drink in NZ - have a bottle.....yum! Stop near Hobbiton, where some farmer is raking in the cash doing tours of the LOTR set (town is called Matamata....whatsamatamata? Ha ha). Get to Rotorua after lunch....Phew! The town smells of sulphur....do you stop noticing it after a whil...

No rest for the wicked on the Kiwi bus....unless you´re really hungover, and then the driver gives you a couple of hours sleep... Head out of Auckland after a quick tour, play some ´getting to know you´games switching seats and chatting to new people. Some are more in to it than others. Make a stop at Cathedral Cove - a pleasant 20-25 mins walk, worth it though. Find out they filmed the first part of Prince Caspian on the same beach. Very picturesque. our bu...

Whoa Friday 13th.....so the plane was delayed an hour or two...no worries. Bye bye OZ, hello New Zealand. Arrived late at the hostel so bedded down, next thing i hear are the cleaners coming round and bagpipes and drums??? There's a big Paddy's day march through the city.Crowbar myself out of bed Sat morning but Auckland has yet to be explored fully - but i'll be back. Activated my Kiwi experience bus ticket, pickup 815 tomorrow morning, l'aventure Kiwi commence....