Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Weds 7th November 2007- Left Hahei and arrived Raglan.
Got upa fter a really good sleep and was glad I had not gone to the Hot water Beach as apparantly it was so busy and the water was really hot and then the sea water was really cold. Drove through Wikato and onto Raglan. Some people were surfing at Raglan but as I had done this in Byron decided to go and see a water fall instead. Our driver Karlyn drove us up a viewpoint so we could view the whole of Raglan and its beautiful beach. We then went to Bridal Veil falls which was actually really pretty and a rainbow had formed. Got back to the hostel and decided against the walk up the mountain and around the hostel. So some of us sat and watched Silence of the Lambs. That evening Karlyn cooked us sausage pie with the left over BBQ sausages. Considered staying an extra night in Raglan but decided that it would only be a really cool place if the weather was good.
Thursday 8th November 2007- Left Raglan and went caving.
Got up after a really restless night. I had spent the night being sick well from 12:00-1:00. Not sure what it was probably the food I had eaten at lunch (the crab, ham and cheese were prob not a great mix). So got on the bus feeling crappy but decided lying in bed wasn't going to make me feel much better. We drove to the rural village of Waitamo. I debated whether to do caving but thought this was better than walking around the town for 4 hours. So got kitted out in wet suit, wet socks, wellies and helmet and off we went across the countryside to do Tumu Tumu Toobing. So we spent 3.5 hours walkin,climbing and crawling through the cave and its passages. It was really good and not as freezing as I thought it would be. However when your hands went in the water the cold shot through your body like knifes. The only bit I didn't like was when we went through a passage called the birthing canal. In the dark and it was quite a tight space. Didn't enjoy this but the rest of it was cool. We also sat on tubes (rubber rings) and got to see the glow worms which are actually glow maggots. This was really beautiful and for $50 the experience was well worth it.
We left Waitomo and headed for Maketu. Unfortuantely this bit of the journey has only just been added to the iteniery and Karlyn wasnt entirely sure where we were going. The Maori experience, accomodation and meal cost $65 and some people had not realised this so were dropped off in Rotorua. Although it did say this on the Stray iteniery some people had the winter timetable as the summer one came out November 1st. Well we were meant to arrive at about 6:00 and arrived anout 8:00 so only slightly late. The meal was nice and homemade and we were made to feel very welcome by Uncle Boy. We then sat there and watched a group of children, teenagers and adults perform various Maori dances and songs. It was very good but obviously we felt slightly guilty as the kids should have been in bed.
Half way through audience participation was required so the lads got dragged outside shirts off and taught the Haka and the girls got to do the Po dance. Not sure who got the worst deal. We had to swing around plastic balls that were on the end of rope.
So the dance went something like swing, swing, catch or was it catch, catch, swing. Either way I was fairly hopeless but too tired toO care and I'm used to being unco-ordianted so wasn't a massive shock when I was doing different things to everyone else. After this humilation they made us do it again! Thank God no one had my camera. The show ended and we were all exhausted. We had a talk from Uncle Boy who said that he had interviewed an entire group once. Everyone is thinking please we just want to sleep as Karlyn had said we were getting up for 6:30. At around 10:30 Uncle Boy had told us his life story, all about his dreams for his hostel stroke enterprise. At around 10:30 we all fell onto our mattresses on the floor and slept.
Friday 9th November 2007- Rotorua and the road trip begins.
Just before we had fell asleep the night before people had talked about doing a road trip to the East Cape. I had said I would fancy it if there was enough room, but didn't think it would probably come off. We caleld at Mt Monganui I still had cramps from the 2 nights before so decied agianst it. Plus I was being lazy! Drove into Rotorua and had somehow agreed to do a road trip to the East Cape.
Witihn about an hour we had booked the cars and were on our way to Pak and Save. THe group introduced themself while booking the cars. What kind of people decide to go on a road trip without even knowing each others names. Anyway by the end of shopping everyone was cool a bit of tension but only because trying to organise food for 9 people isn't always easy. Then we had to get 9 people into the 2 cars with all our luggage and food. Cosy is probably the word I would use.
Off we went. We called at the Blue Lake and the Green Lake (not too original). Then headed towards the East Cape. Porobaly not really looking into how much driving was involved. Paul and Bernd very kindly drove the millions of miles through windy roads. It was a pretty journey but after a while every green field, mountain, sheep, hill, tree looks the same. W e arrived at our destination at around 8:00pm.
The place we were staying was Te Aurora Holiday Park. Somehow Felicitas, Marloes and Chris managed to make tea- handmade chicken burgers with feta salad. Me, Jen, Marloes and Felicitas made sandwiches for the following day and we were in bed at about 10:00. Surprisingly (lol) I was the first in bed knackered is not the word!
Saturday 10th November- East Cape Sunrise, Gisborne and Napier.
We got up at 4:30 to see the first sunrise that day in the world. I think the whole group were thinking whose stupid idea was this. This morning I drove the Fiesta to the East Cape across the dirt tracks avoiding the rabbits and sheep. (after the hedghog incident the night before). We arrived alive and were told we had to walk up to the lighthouse to see the sunrise. No one had mentioned this! It was only a 20 minute hike but at 4:00am I thought I was going to collapse. Asthma is a good excuse but the fact that I am so unfit is the real reason I can't hack stairs. I'm going to the gym when I get back! We waited for the sunrise which was due at 6:00. It was worth the get up, drive and hike. We all took photos, drank orange juice and ate cookies. It was nice to be sitting with people that the day before had been near enough stangers. 2 Germans, 2 Dutch, 1 American, 1 Swiss and 2 English. It was like a meeting of the EU plus the American.
We went back to bed but only for 2.5 hours (not enough) and then checked out not before the manager of the campsite had interviewed and filmed us (don't ask). We drove down the coast, me infront (this was not a good idea) driving at 50 mph as I was so scared of going over a cliff. In my defense the corners were sharp and as Gareth knows I do not like windy bloody roads. In fact I am quite scared of crashing especially when I am behind the wheel!
We arrived in Gisborne (alive) and had our sandwiches on the beach which was nice. Lay there for about half and hour, we swapped cars and Jen took over the driving. This meant our journey was halfed which was cool. We arrived in Napier (Archies Bunker)at around 6:00 and Paul and Eric cooked us pasta with tuna and veg sauce. The group had decided that some people wanted to go for some drinks in town and others wanted to go to the beach. Guess where I went? After borrowing straighteners off the managers daughter (desperate times desperate measures, Mum did I mention mine got stolen in Perth within the first 5 days of my trip) 5 of us went out to Napier. We started in an Irish bar and ended the evening in a bar with heavy metal music. For a Saturday night town was dead. I think the whole of NZ is empty it is so quiet. I'm really not sure where the people are. We were in bed by 12:00. Hardcore! It was actually an entertaining night as we all saw the funny side of the heavy metal group with the mosh pit and the 20 people in the entire bar.
Sunday 11th November 2007- Napier- Taupo- Rotorua
Left Napier after caLling at the lookout and headed to Taupo. On the way we called at Huka Falls and took some scenic photos. Arrived in Taupo and ate Subway by the Lake. Then we went to see the Craters of the Moon. This was ok but we had seen sulphur pools with steam coming out in Rotorua, it was quite a nice walk around which took around 45 minutes and then we had icecream. It was actually quite sad as we knew the group was splitting up. Jen, Paul and I were going back to Rotorua to chill for a few days and others were going back on the Stray.
Dropped the guys off at Urban Retreat in Taupo and sorted out the money. We had spent $130 in 3 days on car hire, petrol, food, accomodation. This is 55 quid bargainess. Had a lovely trip- great people, great weather and great sites.
- comments