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From Bangkok To LA
Wow! What a great start to our time in New Zealand!!
We arrived in the evening on 24th, and Franks Dads friend recently moved over to New Zealand with his family, Eric, Geraldine and their two sons Ralph and Guy! so Eric picked us up from the airport and took us to his house. Me and Frank thought it was going to be pretty close to the airport, but it wasn't! Two hours later after lots of windy roads and some amazing stars we arrived at the house.
They were very welcoming, and we chatted for a while about what we'd been up to, but we were both knackered after 36 hours on a coach in Australia!
We had such a good nights sleep, and after a nice lie in, Geraldine cooked us a fry up! It was so good, we had everything, sausages, bacon, crumpets, mushrooms, tomatoes and beans yum!! The boys were there as well and they were really funny and very cute!
We started our day of ( all of us other than Eric as he was working), by going down to a place called Hot Water Beach! The drive down was beautiful, you could see for miles and it was such a nice day, although still pretty chilly!!We took a spade with us, and under the sand is geothermal energy which heats the water! It took us ages at first to find a hot bit, then we find a really hot bit! It was wicked, the water was so hot ( bit too hot in places, very nearly burnt our feet, Frank did on occasions) It was like having a bath on the beach, some people were in bikinis, but we just stuck our feet in! Ralph and Frank did most of the digging! After about an hour the tide started to come in (and ralph was soaked) so we made our way to the next place, called Hahei.
It was really pretty, the sand was white, and the scenery was pretty cool. We didnt stay that long, but we saw what we needed to see!
We went to Ferry Landing, and had the biggest ice cream ever I think, it was absolutely huge, can't believe none of the boys spilt any down their front-that includes Frank!!
We got a little ferry across to Whitianga (think i spelt that right). There were some amazing boats in the harbour! We walked around the town for a while, saw the smallest fire station ever I think (Guy got to sit in the truck which was cool)
We then went to a little park, and played on the swings and see-saw, it was hard to bring Frank away!
We then headed back to the house, it was getting chilly and I think the boys were desperate to get back! We also saw Tairua beach on the way back, which is also very nice to have just down the road!
After the boys went to bed, me and frank felt like royalty! We had a sunday roast dinner! It was so good, and again had everything, beef, pots, yorkshire, sprouts, leeks everything! We also had wine and beer, and the wine was out of a bottle and not a box! Very good!!
After some really good chats we hit the sack! Frank was feeling really ill which isn't good, but hes feeling a bit betetr today which is good!
We had an early rise this morning as we were catching the bus to Auckland! Me and Frank were treated as ralph came and read to us about castles!
We had such a good time staying there and we got to see loads! So thankyou eric and Geraldine for putting up with us, felt very nice to be in a nice warm house, and you looked after us very well!!
We headed into Auckland this morning, we walked to the place where we were hiring a car (as usual took longer to find that usual)
We arrived there and everyhting was sorted, so they handed over the keys and off we went! we decided that we would head up to the North of the island to the bay of islands today. So thanks to my excellent map reading we got our way out of Auckland and on the motorway (not like in England).
It was a really pretty drive up here! We saw 3 eagles, one was up close as it was in the road, but he was too quick for the camera! It was pretty amazing though and they are absolutely huge!
We took a detour to a viewpoint of Goat Island which was really pretty. but then again, pretty much everything here has amazed us so far!
We stopped off a couple of times, once for lunch (thanks Geraldine for the packed lunch, was very yummy), and another time for a tea and hot chocolate break!!
We arrived here at about 5.30. were in a pretty nice hostel, good old shared bathrooms eh!! not quite the same as our last view days of luxury!!
Its got a games room, we played 4 games of table tennis and i won all 4 hehe! Frank says its because hes ill!!
Its his birthday tomorrow which is cool!! My time is running out so got to go! Take care
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