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Hey All!
So back in Auckland now after a really awesome time in the Bay of Islands! We are soooo knackered and Will is sunburnt bless him!
Left Auckland early Monday morning and headed for Paihia, a coastal town north of Auckland, right bang in the middle of the Bay of Islands. Our first bus tour with Kiwi Experience and they were great! Our driver/ guide was great telling us everything we needed to know, giving us bits of history etc on our way up.. journey was about 3 hours with a few stops of the way.. They pass around aload of information about all the activites and hostels they can book for us, we decided what we wanted to do and they ring ahead and book it for us, meaning by the time we got to Paihia all we had to do was pick up our vouchers for our trips and check in to our hostel! Perfect! No worries about anything it's just so laid back!
Met some really awesome people on the coach up there, all doing or done similar routes to us..all from all different parts of the world.. arrived to the Bay of Islands about midday and spent the rest of the day on the beach! It's about... oh I don't know 100 metres from the beach?! Awesome location! Headed to the bar for a BBQ, few drinks and $4 drinks all night (about 2 pounds) wooo!
Tuesday we generally chilled with the guys we met the day before then went on a adventure fast boat trip called 'The Exciter'. You can take a look at our pictures.. the ones where we are wearing the stupid big red jumpsuits! The boat goes really fast and explores the various 144 islands around the bay.. we travelled out to the famous Hole in the Rock which has been etched by wind and waves.. we even went through it on the boat! Was amazing!.. Bit close to getting through!! They had Adrenalin extreme seats up the front which Will and Victoria (one of the girls we met) talked me into doing!
Wednesday was the best day! We booked to go on a day trip to Cape Regina.. a bus trip that took us to the very very tip of North New Zealand.. rich in hisory of the Maori Culture, take a look on a map.. we spent the day visiting 15,000ha Puketi Kauri Rainforst to hug huge kauri trees, drive along 90 mile beach, fishing for pipis Seafish (like oysters) on the beach, visiting Te Rerenga Wairua Headland where you can actually see the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean clashing together and Cape Reinga lighthouse. According to Maori legend this is the departing place of spirits on their journey to the homeland, Hawaiki. Legend tells of a spirit trail along 90 Mile Beach, starting at the southern end of the beach, the departing spirit waits for an outgoing tide before journeying back to Hawaiki.
Then on to body boading down the gigantic sand dunes in Te Paki Stream!! I can't believe I did it- it was sooo steep! Of course Will loved every second, having seconds and thirds! We finished the day with New Zealand's voted best fish and chips or as Kiwi's call it 'fush 'n chups' . Got back late last night and spent the rest of the evening watching Karoke- very drunken locals and travellers sing their hearts out.. good sing along!
Spent this morning laying on the beach until we headed back to Auckland on the Kiwi Experience bus about 3pm. Got back here at about 6.30, then just dinner and washing before up early tomorrow to actually starting out Kiwi Experience National Pass around the whole of North and South Island! Honestly can't believe we will have been here a week tomorrow.. feels like we've been travelling forever! I've totally got into the way of life, very laid back, living out of a bag, meeting new people every few hours etc and I'm loving every second!
Catch up soon, love to you all :)
xxxx
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