Kia Ora from New Zealand!!!

I have only been in New Zealand for just over a week but with such little time here I am already half way down the north island and in a place called Taupo.

I flew into Auckland last Wednesday but didn't actually get to the hostel until almost 2 in the morning which wasn't the best start to my New Zealand trip. It took me a while to adjust to being in a new place and a lot longer to adjust to the climate (it is freezing cold here) so I spent my first 3 days hanging around Auckland city. Most of my time involved shopping for warm clothes before I froze to death, but I also got to see the main sights. One afternoon I went up Auckland's skytower and ended up staying there to watch the sunset and the lights at night which were spectacular from 220feet up.

Last Saturday I left Auckland and started my Kiwi Experience bus pass which I will be on for the next 3 weeks while I make my way around both islands. Our first journey was heading north and up to the Bay of Islands. unfortunatly the weather was terrible and the entire time we were there it rained. There were cool trips to go and see the dolphins but they all got cancelled due to the weather. Instead we went for a long walk down to the lookout point which was interesting but because of the weather wasn't the greatest view and we wnded up spending the rest of the time there sitting around the hostel watching films but that has at least meant I have got to know everyone on my bus and already made some good friends.

On Sunday we left the Bay of Islands and returned south and back to Auckland for the night. I happened to bump into some people there that i had first met in my first week in Australia which was crazy so we all went out drinking together. I regretted that only slightly when we had to get up stupidly early the following morning! On the way to our next destination our bus stopped several times and we got to see a lot of different sights. Our first stop was Mount Eden where we got a look out over Auckland before we headed to 2 different beaches. The first was Hahie beach where you could cross part of the sea to walk along the beach. I didn't and was glad I hadn't when the tied came in and people fell in and one girls shoes even got washed away. The second beach was Cathedral Cove which we had to walk to but was spectacular. Loads of people in my group went in the sea which was crazy because it was freezing and I have no intention of going down onto any more cold beaches while in NZ!

After Auckland our second destination was Mercury Bay. We arrived here quite late and so after dinner didn't really do a great deal before sleeping and heading out the next day. Next up was Rotorua which was excellent!! On the way we got out to walk through a national park and got to see how beautiful NZ is, and we also stopped in a town where some of 'Lord of the Rings' was filmed. Once in Rotorua I went on a trip to Te Puia to see the hot springs. It may have been cold to walk around but it was really cool to look at and see hot water spraying out of the ground.

Our evening in Rotorua was amazing and the best I haev had yet. We went to a Maori cultural evening to learn all about the culture and see a Maori village. I couldn't believe how cold it was to walk around but it was such a good night and we got to see traditional dancing and singing which was really enjoyable. The highlight was definatly the dinner though which was a full-on feast! I had a roast dinner with about 3 different puddings and was the best food I have eaten in months and couldnt move for the rest of the evening!!!

After our time in Rotorua we headed to Waitomo. On the way we stopped at a fram show which was hilarious. I got pulled onto stage at one point and got to feed lambs which were adorable!!! Once we got to Waitomo most people went on a trip to the caves to do absailing and rafting but I wasn't planning on spending my money being scared so I went on a tour around the caves instead. They were really spectacular and it was really amazing to go on a boat in the caves and see all of the glowworms. The rest of our time in Waitomo was spent relaxing as we were staying in chalets and possibly the nicest accomodation we are going to see for some time.

After Waitomo we headed on to Taupo where we have decided to stay for 3 nights. Compared to some of the other places we have been Taupo has quite a lot going on and we have been out every night. On Saturday it was Jade's (the girl I am travelling with for a while) birthday. We had planned to go on a skydive but unfortunatly it got cancelled 3 times and instead we wasted the day sitting around. Our night out was great though and I have no idea when we got to bed. We had come to terms with the fact that we would not be skydiving but by 7.20 the following morning we were told the skydive was going ahead and the bus was leaving! We had to check out and so frantically started throwing clothes into our bags and running outside. I felt awful from the night before and could not believe we were about to throw ourselves out of plane!!! The skydive was incredible though. The worst bit was watching Jade go first and fall out of the plane, at which point I started screaming and shouting at my instructor to hold onto me. I didn't have much choice in stopping now as I was virtually pushed out of the plane but the feeling was incredible. The view over Taupo was spectacular and it was ceratainly an experience that I will never forget!