Started off the day with intentions of going to a place called Lake Taupo. I headed north and found myself driving for a few hours through green farmland.....I drove through parts of the Tongiriro National Park also known as the desert road! There were some impressive mountains and volcanos that just are out in the middle of the tumble weeds?! I got to Turangi by noon....it is on the south end of Lake Taupo....I googled how far Waitomo was and decided to go for i...

I just sat down to write this blog and out of the corner of my eye I see movement.....bounding as fast as he could a rabbit ripped towards me and right on past me under the fence....there are about 50 school age kids bouncing on one of those big bouncing blow up pillow like things....if I was a rabbit I would be racing as fast as I could away....I on the other had paid for a site here so I can't run....am hoping these kids have a curfew and disappear when it gets...

So I started my day getting lost in Westport trying to find the beach....finally found road out to the lighthouse and pulled over where some people were doing that netting thing again. I got out and ended up having my morning coffee with a lady who's husband was fishing....they were netting whitebait....kind of like minnows.....had a great chat and was on my way. Today's drive was inland...more mountains.....switchbacks ....one way bridges....one way roads on the...

I am sitting here in my camping chair with birds chirping behind me in the trees and the sound of crashing waves of the ocean in front of me....I can't see the beach but I can hear it and smell it.....I am in a small place called Carter's Beach just outside Westport. I really had no plans for today other than to get to Westport or Nelson....I was looking in my lonely planet book last night and I had a vivid memory of my first day on the Camino.....I was sitting o...

Today my plan was to explore the Fox and Franz Joseph Glaciers, I had not booked anything but I was hoping to do the half day glacier walk at Fox Glacier. I arrived early at the Fox Glacier office and they were booked :( the nice young lady said she would ask if they would take one more because the weather was perfect! I went back to my campa and waited it out....nice young lady came running out to tell me that someone cancelled and she put me in!! Sweet!! Off an...