NEW ZEALAND TO WAITOMO TO TAUPO

On MON we went Luge-ing again in the morning as we and convinced more people off the bus to join us. It was a huge laugh loads of us racing each other and a special mention goes to Jamie who almost killed himself going crazy Luge-ing off the edge off a cliff (or so it appeared!) We headed to Waitomo where we did Black Water Rafting/Caving. See photos of us in wetsuits looking really cool and check out Penny's 'size' of wetsuit....it controversially read 'size 0'!It involved paddling through caves on rubber rings in the dark, seeing glow worms and jumping off MINI waterfalls backwards with the ring under you!We stayed at YHA Kiwi backpackers.In the eve we had a BBQ and celebrated St Patricks Day in the only bar in Waitomo...a small town, we saw our caving guides in there. We had 2 Irish girls on our bus to enjoy it with and we drank a themed green punch. On TUES before heading to Taupo (pronounced 'toe-paw') we saw rabbits being sheared in Waitomo which they have to do every 3 months otherwise they die! (check out photos of a massive rabbit that looks like a teddy...it IS real and alive!) It was a little disturbing as they tied them up to shear them but it was saving their life! Then we headed to the HUKA FALLS....well amazing waters that flow to Lake Taupo. They are so powerful they produce 15% of NZ hydro electricity. Once we arrived in Taupo in the afternoon, a few people sky dived. We have chosen to do it Austrailia at Mission beach over the rainforest and Great Barrier Reef.In eve we had a pub quiz in an irish bar. Our kiwi driver met up with other kiwi drivers who we have since bumped into 2 more.We stayed in taupo until friday. On WED we played 18 hole mini golf and then trekked to the thermal hot pools an hr away. Its a freezing cold river with boiling hot waterfalls going into it and at the top of the falls are hot pools that are as hot as getting into a bath that turns your legs red! They are natural springs, heat caused by tetonic plates rubbing together. That eve got trollied. Next day THURS Kiwi bus left but we stayed so we said our goodbyes. Went for an awesome hang over fry up. We did naff all all day apart from get upgraded for free from a Dorm that we shared with a danish couple from our bus, to a double ensuite...the luxury and excitement!That eve Mikey asked Carl to be best man, was gona have a quite 1 but had to go for a drink to celebrate obviously! Next day check out 10am off to napier for the Cricket.