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Day 360 (Saturday 29th November 08)
Luckily were ok where we had parked up for the night so up early and straight away down to the Hot Water Beach car park. Had some breakfast and found out that the areas where you could dig a hot water spa where covered by the tide and wouldn't be exposed until about 2pm so decided we wouldn't hang around and headed further around the Coromandel Peninsula. Very scenic drive and really nice area. Stopped to have a look in Whitianga and Kuaotunu. All the way along up to the scenic lookout which was an amazing view over both sides of the Coromandel Peninsula. Then on into Coromandel town which was a nice little place. Lots of massive empty oyster shells dumped on the beach and some big dead fish! Made our way along the other side of the Coromandel Peninsula and again very scenic along the windy roads by the sea. Lots and lots of people out fishing in their boats with loads and loads of 4X4 with empty trailers parked up. Interesting to see sea fisheries officers waiting for people coming back from their fishing and checking everything they have bought back with them. Further down and through Thames, very busy as a market going on. Then started heading along the coast up towards Auckland. Pulled up in a rest area and made some lunch as getting quite late. Drove on upto Kawakawa Bay and stopped to do some study. Lots of people out and about with it being the weekend. Played some backpacker and had something to eat. Then carried on driving to find somewhere to stay for the night. Ended up pretty much in Auckland. Started trying to find somewhere in South Auckland to stay for the night and soon realised it wasn't the sort of place you would be very safe parked up on the side of the road. Managed to find somewhere else along a pier after a lot of searching.
Day 361 (Sunday 30th November 08)
Moved away from where we were parked early again as already a lot of people around. Went and parked up in the one of the parks and made some breakfast. Needed to find a campsite that we could stay in for the week so went off in search of somewhere that wasn't too expensive! After driving around for a while and asking at a couple of places came across a cheaper one than we had found anywhere else in the city and seemed nice too! Glad we came across this one! Paid up and went to our site then went to the shopping mall down the road for a couple of things. Next went in search of some internet and found it a lot harder than what we thought it would be. Soon found out that the only internet around was right in the middle of the city where parking cost a fortune. Managed to park in a 15 minute space while we went and printed off the documents we need for our exams. We were glad when we had managed to get all this done as turned out to be quite difficult! Headed back to the campsite to study for the afternoon. Lots of people staying at the campsite that were leaving the next day so got offered lots of free food which we readily accepted!
Day 362 (Monday 1st December 08)
Once we were up studied for the morning. Popped off to the shops to get some food and then back to make some lunch. Went up to catch the bus at about 2:30pm into the city for Em's exam. A long time before the start but we wanted to make sure we had enough time to get there and find it. Luckily found it without too much problem so went further down Queen Street to find somewhere we could go until 5pm. Ended up getting a drink in Starbucks and Em did some last minute study. Back up to the University where Em was taking her exam. Mark got chatting to Jean-Pierre, who looked after the university building and went for a coffee in the staff room so the time passed quite quickly! Once Em was finished back out into the rain and off to find the bus to get back to the campsite. Didn't go the most direct way but got back to the campsite eventually! Made something to eat and to bed.
Day 363 (Tuesday 2nd December 08)
Spent the morning doing some study again. Made a late lunch and then headed up to get the bus into the city for Em's second exam. Luckily we were there in plenty of time. While Em was in her exam Mark watched TV and chatted to Jean-Pierre. Very kindly once Em's exam was over the invigilator offered us a lift back to the campsite as she said she lived around the same area. We were back before it was even dark, much quicker than getting the bus! Had something to eat and a beer to celebrate 2 exams down and 1 each left to go!
Day 364 (Wednesday 3rd December 08)
Went off to Ponsonby to find where Mark is taking his exam on Friday. Luckily found it without too much problem. Back to the campsite to do some study. Had a break to make some lunch and then carried on for the afternoon. Made something to eat later on and chilled out infront of the TV!
Day 365 (Thursday 4th December 08)
Studied most of the day in between chats to Willy, the groundsman at the campsite.
Day 366 (Friday 5th December 08)
Up early to be ready for Mark's exam. Just as we were about to go off to Ponsonby the people staying the in tents next door to us wanted a jump start. Luckily we still made it to the exam on time as managed to park quite easily. Back to the campsite for some lunch and then chilled out for a while. Off to Em's exam. Both very happy when it finished at 7pm! Back to the campsite to chill out with a couple of beers!
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