Today started off with a very early Skype session with the famalam. One of the best things about this hostel was the fact you had IPad use, very luxurious for a backpacker! So at 7am I dragged myself out of bed to chat to them. I've not really used Skype much before and it was really surreal seeing Mum, Dad, Aimee and Paul, I think dad was pretty intrigued by it, by the looks of things! But unfortunately due to Gem, Wang and Finley joining in the computer would o...

Before I had got to Rotorua I knew I should definately visit the Polynesian Spa. Very handy as it was only 5 minute walk from the hostel. So on my last morning I got up early and headed over there with Lola (roommate) (yes, I did have 'Copacabana' in my head anytime someone said her name!). We used the Lake Spa so were able to use 4 different mineral spring pools which were 36c, 38c, 40c and 42c. It was really relaxing and especially like the hottest one, especia...

As soon as i had arrived the previous day I asked my roommate what tours she was going on...so I tagged along! First we went to Waimangu Volcanic Valley. The bus picked us up at 9am and it took 40 mins to get there, we were also with the 2 kiwi girls from the night before. It was a 3 hr walk though the volcanic valley were there was bubbling streams, steaming cliffs, volcanic craters and of course some strange wildlife, one being a black swan! I obviously took a...

Today was a bit of a lazy day, I spent the morning packing and checking out of my Auckland hostel, said my goodbyes, then headed to the bus station at 12pm. The bus only took 4 and a half hrs which is pretty good compared to most of the bus journeys I've done, and it only took about 10 minutes to walk to the hostel. The man at the hostel was very friendly and talkative, which is always a bonus! I went up to my room and got chatting to an Aussie girl who said we s...

Today was a very busy day and also probably the scariest of my life!! It started off early with me getting up at 7am to watch the England footy match, which I hadn't bothered to be honest, but hey ho you have to support your country! Around 9:30 I caught the free shark shuttle bus to Kelly Tarlton's where I would be doing my Shark Cage Experience as well as checking out the penguins, seahorses, fishies, turtles, etc! My shark cage wasn't until 12:30 so I had a c...