Hi All. This entry is going to cover everyting since i left Auckland and the Ross'...so here goes!

I left Auckland and landed in Wellington on the 29.06.07. I was picked up from the airport by a couple of the international student support team here at the uni. They dropped me off at my accommodation called 'Te awhina'. Megan my new flat mate greated me with a warm smile and a very bibbily charisma. That afternoon she showed me around the campus - and i got settled in. Term starts on the 16th July so i had time to kill and i was able to organise a round trip of a good portion of the north island - it lasted 6days and i left on tuesday 3rd.

1.

I met the bus carrying my rucksack at 07:00 (an hour i havent seen for a while now) and we made our way from Wellington five hours north to Taupo. The activity sheet was passed around and i put my name down for the skydive the following morning - sorry mum and dad! Once we arrived at the 'Urban Retreat' hostel we sorted out dinner and had some drinks in the bar...looking forward to the next morning. Unfortunately (for me) the dive was canceled due to wind and cloud. Because time was pressing i wasnt able to stay another night (so i'll wait til i get to the south to do the dive).

2.

Had a great day. Met nice bunch of people on the bus - two of which are from Wallington!!. Now on the way to Rotorua.

Did the louge - check out the photos and watched the Zorbing in the afternoon. That night we went to a Maori house to learn some of their rituals and sample their food. We got picked up from the hostel at 7pm and saw how the MAoris greeted unfamiliar faces - the war dance! very threatening, especially with the eyes being opened uncommonly wide and the tongue being projected out in full length every minute or so. This took about 10mins, and then we went into their village (a recreation of how it would have been when they first settled). We were showed how they cooked, made clothes, created tattoos etc - was somewhat dinsey-like, though great fun and very entertaining. From here we went into their hall and they performed more dances and chants...very evocative.

Feast time - all you could eat...Roast dinner and rice pudding! Wonderful...!

3.

Got picked up at 9am to go to Waitomo. Jamie - the bus driver dropped a group of us off at the geysers - which is where i met Nicola, Alex, Dean and Andy. We were given a tour and shown how the maori created rope, clothes etc from flax! Drove up to Waitomo and dropped off at an amasing hostel called 'More Pork' - here i met Drashka and Nina, two German girls on the Kiwi Experience too. Had a chilled evening as the next day i was doing the 'Black Abyss'. Very Excited.

4.

Definately one of the best days here!. The Balck Abyss at the Waitomo caves was sensational. We were picked up at 07:30 and suited with wet-suits by the guides Parker and Ross. Here is what we did :

Abseil training, Abseiled down 40feet into the caves (very narrow at points), scrambled around the caves looking for glow worms. Took a zip-line in pitch backness further deeper into the caves (very scary), Jumped off ledge (15ft) into freezing cold water with a rubber ring around our waists...had to paddle fast as we were getting sucked towards the waterfalls. Pulled ourselves along a rope and switched off torches to see glow worms, swam/crawled through very tight passages, climbed up two waterfalls - NO ROPE. Due to the constant rain the night before the current was very strong and the level was higher than anticipated which meant certain gaps to squeeze through were quite uncomfortable and nerving. Showered and took bus to Taupo again - FAB DAY!!

5.

Drove to River VAlley Lodge. Scenary was amasing throughout the whole journey. We were able to take a trek half-way which is where we saw Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings and came accross several other locations where the movie was shot. Snow had just fallen and the air was so fresh. The sky kept changing every second altering the landscape completely. Was beautiful.

6. LAst DAy

Horse Riding! I have now got the bug again ... We set off in a group of 6 early in the morning for a 2hr hike. I was riding Pedro - although he was very lazy i managed to squeeze a couple of canters and a good gallop from him. I loved it. Definately the best way to see a place of such surroundings. Unfortunatly my camera died half way through...

Back to Windy Wellington!

Have settled into the city and am now in a different flat than before. Have made some good friends and am looking forward to term starting monday. Cheers for your comments everyone! X