The Coromandel Peninsula is exceptional. It's Eastern shores are littered with small inlets and white sand beaches where it's ranges in the middle are a mass of lush, green ferns and native rainforest. We're destined for the picture-perfect haven known as Hahei. It is a relatively small area which is flanked by rocky headlands and rolling waves. Our first stop was Hot Water Beach. Chelsea had heard about this spot and was keen as a bean to go there. Her main so...

Our Air B and B (simply put, a service where people that aren't using their home for a short period - for holidays and similar things - make a bit of extra cash by letting people stay at their home for a fee) was more than adequate! It was a singular, huge room offering a kitchen, bedroom and living room with a bathroom down a narrow corridor by the door. It was all very clean and tidy and it was a delight being able to get dressed and look for things without bei...

Milling around Posonby Market was the most Christmassy thing we had done or seen around the Christmas season. The ceiling was a glittering red due to the hundreds of ornamental red orbs that hung from the ceiling and mince pies were on every stall. Settling down to a banana milkshake in one of the many quirky cafes allowed us to take in the place a little better. This particular cafe was chosen as it had roughly twenty lights hanging from its ceiling, all of whi...

Yawning and stretching as I clambered down from Jimi onto the cold farmyard earth so bright and early was a delight. The cows and horses were pointedly staring at us and lambs could be heard a short distance away. We had to collect a parcel from Auckland later in the day, as it had failed to be delivered three consecutive times. With a little more haste injected into our day we scoffed down some beans on toast and were on our way. Arriving at Waitomo caves the ...

Gently tensing my bum cheeks and calves whilst still under the covers was both intriguing and painful, running the last part of the Tongariro hike yesterday has turned out to be a terrible idea. I think I will be spending the rest of the day on crutches. Massaging my legs back to normality we headed to our river rafting headquarters - it was 08:45 and I was jubilant. When we arrived they were refurbishing the building so tents and gazebos had been set up outsid...