Hello from Paihia,

Sam and I are in New Zealand now. We had a great last night out in Cairns, and I am sure most of you haver probably heard, we almost missed our flight ;-) Long story but to cut it short we decided that because it was our last ever night out in Oz, and we were getting our flight at 6am, we would go out with some friends we had met up with from Fraser Island and just not go to bed. BIG mistake. A few drinks turned into quite a lot and after literally knocking myself out doing a mini bunjee jump in a bar ( dont ask it was crazy and I somehoe mnaaged to smash my head on the rope as I came down) the next thing qwe kow its 4am and our taxi has arrived to take us to the airport and Sam and I are both asleep at the bar in our hostel!!!! We just about to made it to the airport on time, (still with our clothes on from that night, good times) and they let us on the flight. Not quite sure why and how as we were a little "giddy" but hey, what a great last night in Oz. I am already really missing it!!!!!!!!! We LOVE OZ!!!!!!!

So........we arrived into Auckland and guess what was raining, hard, really hard, it didnt stop for 3 days and we were stuck in Auckland as all the roads were flooded and closed! It was really borig actually as we had don everything we could do in Auckland in 2 days and we were just waiting to go up to the Bay of islands, but we had to get up everymorning at 6am and heck with the "magic" Bus (thats how we are traelling around NZ) to see if the buses were running. We had fun in Auckland though, went up to the top of the Sky Tower, its the tallest bulding in the Southern Hemisphere, how about that for a fact!!!hehe, and I was tempted for some bizzre second to do the "sky jump" which is kind of like a bunjee jump but its more controloled, more like a superman jump, but it was almost 190metrres and after seeing people doing it, I thought it would be best if I didnt throw myself off this stupidly high building!!!!!!!!! WE also found the most AMAZING place in Auckland, Mrs Higgins......... the best fresh soft cookies ever!!!! Sam and I are both i love with Mrs Higgins!!!! And they are all around NZ too, good to know!!!!!

WE also had to venture out into the rubish weather ( I have never seen rain like it, there were floods everywhere) and buy some warm clothes as we have arrived to NZ just as their winter is starting and its cold!!!! Its not too bad up in the North Island, but we have heard there is already a bit of snow down in Queenstown! Its a shock to the system though, esp coming from cairns!!!! So we purchased a few jumpers and trousers, and we are having to ditch the whole "beach look" now, so out with the vest tops and short!!!! Boo to that!!!!!

We eventually made it up to the Bay of Islands and its so pretty up here!!!!! The landscape is amazing! We are very impressed so far!!!! We are right up in a small town in the country called Paihia, and staying a ion a cute little lodge called Salt water, its all very chilled out, and we're just getting lots of early nights and doing lots of treks and trips! yes thats right, shock horror ( Uncle Tom, I know you will be in shock that we arent out partying every night) but its soooooo nice just to "lie low" as the Kiwi's call it and have quiet nights in watching movies etc in the hostel! We even had a big game of scrabble last night with an older couple who are staying next door to us ( but it was raining really bad outside so there was not much to do) so Im loving it. We did a LONG walk yday, right around the coast and then up a mountain, it was 12 miles there, and then we got the bus back!!!! ut it was all uphill. Stunning views from the top though,. I have never in my life seen so many cows and sheep!!!!!!!!!!Its crazy!!!!!

The small towns here were hit really bad by the storms, and most of them have tress lying everywhere and the whole place is a bit of a mess really, its quite sad to see. The papers are saying its the worst rain theyve had in over 100 years! So mwe probably havent seen the bay of Islands at their best. We had a great day today though and went on day trip up to Cape Reinga, via the 90 mile beach, which was really nice. We went all the way up into the mountains and the views were incredible! The best bit of the day though was when we got to go Sandboarding!!!! If you ever get a chance to do it then DO IT!!!! Its so much fun, Sam and I were loving it and were like little kiddies! the sand dunes were huge and it took 15 min to climb to the top, and my god what a work out. My little legs were in tatters by the end of it, but it was worth it. When you get to the top you just lie on your body board and just jump on, lie down and hold on for dear life while you fly down these huge sand dunes!!! It was scary but great, the only bad bit about it was walking bak up to the top with all the sand flying in your eyes! So I only managed to climb up twice as I thought my legs were going to give up and actually snap off! Our bus driver couldnt stop laughing and called me a "whinging Pom" when I asked him why they didnt have a lift or something to take you to the top?!!!! It seems sensible enough to me though. hose sand dunes are a killer to trek up to!!!!There were a few accidents wityh people falling off, thought someone had broke their arm, but she was ok, its just crazy as your hurtling down so fast and yoiu cant stop either!!! That was the start of our extreme fun! Wonder what will be next!!!

But.......the day was cut short when we were at the beach as our bus driver suddenly got everyone back onto the bus and told us that a tsunami warning had been issued near to us and we had to get back to Pahia. he did seem quite relaxed about the whole thing but it was a little scary. ts come from one of the islands apparently, but we havent heard anything since. Our lodge is close to the sea though???!!!!!

So we leave the Bay of islands tommorrow and head back to Auckland for one night, and then we head to Rotarura on Wednesday, our next town for a bit more of fun! We are hoping to try zorbing and maybe caving there.

So goodbye tan and I best get used to the "cooler" weather for my last 4 weeks here. It best be nice n hot in Fiji for me ;-)

Lots of love to you all, and Happy Easter if I dont write before then L. xxxxxxx

Hayley- I am soooooooo happy you are coming in less than a week!!!! Call us as soon as you get to Auckland and then book your bus as we may be down in Taupo already. We can wait for you IF we deicide to do a skydive but it all deopends on the weather as they are really strict with it apparently. Any clouds= no jump, boooo. Please bring me some jeans over as my little legs are cold!!!!!!! ;-) Thanks babe, have a safe trip out.

Mr T- I hope you are feeling better and if not then get better soon. Eat lots of easter eggs they will make you feel lots better I am sure of it!Take care of yourself though.