Well the first experience of backpacking has so far been successful! I am currently in the Northlands and staying in a little place called Paihia on the East Coast, which is right in the heart of the bay of islands.

I left Mount Maunganui to have my first coach trip (the bus turned up half an hour late!) Was a pretty boring and uneventful trip up to Auckland. Once I got there I had a bit of a wander, and then was picked up by one of Kristins friends, Lawrence who owns a Japanese restaurant in one of the Harbours (got a lovely free meal!) Then another of Kristins friends came and met me, chris. I was definetly well looked after in Auckland!! So I stayed at Chris's and then the next morning we had a drive around and I saw the sites - went up Mount Eden which gives a really good view of the city. Looking forward to going back to Auckland and seeing a bit more as it was a bit of a whistlestop tour.

So then I got my coach out of Auckland and up North, again pretty uneventful and involved sleeping! When I arrived in Paihia went to the hostel and was abit overwhelmed by it all! Lots of people, noisy, dorms! So the first night I wandered into the town for a walk and got some fish and chips (nearly all eaten by evil seagulls) and then back to the backpackers where I got in bed and went to sleep. Was pretty tired.

The next day the weather was gorgeous and I went over to Whaitangi (or somethign similar to that!) to do a 5km walk to some waterfalls, unfortunatly the path was closed after 4.2km so didnt really see the point so I had a look round the Whaitangi area where a treaty was signed between the Maouri and the British, was quite interesting and gave really nice views over the Bay. Then I pottered back to Pahia and booked some tours (more to come) and then caught the ferry over to Russell. Russell is a really old town with the oldest pub and church in New Zealand. There isnt a whole lot there, took about 20 minutes to pretty much see everything but was nice all the same and I sat and had a drink overlooking the water, all very serene. Then I was back to the hostel and cooked a spectacular feast of pasta and baked beans! Back to the student days. Was feeling much braver this eve and sat and had a drink with some girls - the 4 girls had been staying in a van and sneakily using the hostels facilities! They were funny tho, two Dutch, an English girl (from Portsmouth!) and a Canadian. The Canadian girl had given up on the van and was staying in my dorm. Wasnt too much of a late night as on Friday i went sailing!!

Unfortunatly the day was not so great as Thursday, it was a bit grey. And although it was warm when we were sailing it got really chilly. Within about 20 minutes we were all in our jackets with towels round our legs!! The boat was a Catamaran and really quite big and fast. Cant say I did a whole amount of sailing myself (i did hold a rope!) but I was quite happy to sit back and relax. Sitting on the trampolines at the front of the Boat was really cool, just a metre from the water. There werent too many of us either which was good and it was a nice crowd. Had a lovely bbq lunnch which was lush and then we stopped on the biggest island in the bay of islands for a walk or swim or whatever you wanted. I have yet to go in the sea, its still a bit chilly for my liking!! We got back into the Harbour at about 4.30 and then went back to the backpackers and again ate, sat with the girsl and had a few drinks. We went down to one of the bars but it wasnt so great and I was out at 7.00 the next morning so wasnt a late one. Good fun tho and the girls last nights in Pahia before they moved on.

So the n Saturday I went on the Cape Reinga trip - this is the most northern tip of NEw Zealand and quite a trip from where I was staying so it was a long day. Early start and then back at around 6.30 in the eve. The weather was pretty bad, windy and rainy and not the best. One of the girls i went sailing with was on the trip to so we sat together which was nice. We first headed up to the Mangaginagina forest ( i have no idea if thats how you spell it!) where we saw some Kauri trees which are massive trees which the Maouri hold as sacred. Apparently they built the walkway thro the Forst for the Queen when she visted at a cost of $1 million - our guide said she took a few steps in and then turned around and got back in her car - good one queeny. It was interesting to see the wildlife tho. And then we took the big trip to Cape Reinga - on the way there it transpired that some of the road had collapsed - i say road, i mean gravel track..... So all the buses went sand boarding first in the hope that the road may get better. Allt he bus trips kind of go in convoy all stopping off at the same places. Sand boarsign was not an activity i will be doign again. The wind was so strong and we had to march up the sand dunes with the sand whipping against you - it was honestly like having pins stuck in you. And then for pleasure you lie on a board and hurl yourself down these massive dunes. I managed to fall off and roll, and lose my board over the sand dune. The wind just whipped it up and it went - there was no way I could have run after it. So with my head held down and literally covered in sand i went back down to the bus. It really was not fun, but an experience none the less. Then we had word that the track to Cape Reinga was better so all the buses turned and we started to head up there. Unfortunatly we ended up turning around as it was just too dangerous. Only one bus made it up there and that was a smaller buggy type thing and even the people in that said it was really scary, and when they were there it was so windy it wasnt really worth it. So I havent been to Cape Reinga (a good reason for returning at some point!) Mum and Dad, Elisabeth and Aunty Carol you all have postcards heading to you saying this is sent from Cape Reigna as thats a really touristy thing to do, and I wrote them on the coach up. They're sent from Paihia but the thought was there belive me!! Then we turned and headed down Ninety Mile Beach, its a state highway and part of the NZ road system - the buses drive right along the sea on the sand. That was really cool, and we stopped at a coupple of places - the wind was mighty strong. After the beach we pretty much just headed back with a couple of stops including one for fish and chips (more scary seagulls). When we got back i was so glad to have a shower. I was still covered in sand. One of the girls in my dorm had gone on another bus that day and we were like 'get us in the shower!!' I swear when I took my clothes off there was enough sand for a sandcastle. It was in my hair, my ears, my eyes, my belly button. The sand was ridiculous, so was very thankful of the shower. Then I went out to another bar down the road which was really fun. Managed somehow to get a free beer, and free punch and got involved in a suck and blow card competition with a guy dressed up as the mask. Somewhere in the world there are photos but unfortunatly for you guys i dont have them!! Got in at about 1 in the mornign and seemed to wake up the whole dorm - i thought i was being very quiet!

And now Im sat writing this. I forgot to bring my journal with me so this blog is for me to remember as well! Cant upload photos but will do when Im back at Kristins, have got a classic one of me AFTER the sand boarding!

Today Im just chilling out, luckily the sun is poking its head out so may go to the beach. And then tomorrow Im off to Hokianga, on the East Coast. Will try and update you there. Am having a wicked time, it really is so much fun. When I left Kristins on Tuesday i was a bit like oh my am i brave or just plain crazy for doing this, but it has been a hoot, and I cant wait to do more! Lots of love to everyone x