| DIARY 12 |
| 1st Oct 2005 Arrived in Auckland about 5pm and got through customs with no problems - not as fussy as we thought.... just checked our walking boots and took the tent away to spray it! So nice that they speak English!!! Met Sarah (a friend of a friend???) and her balloon - she was holding a big red balloon so that we'd spot her, as we'd never met before - and went back to her house. Spitting with rain so a bit grey and miserable. All the houses (or rather bungalows) are detached with gardens - you don't get semis or terraced in New Zealand. After a shower to freshen up a few of Sarah's friends arrived for a dinner party which we managed to stay up for - I think in total we were awake for about 27 hours over Friday and Saturday - great company, food and wine helped though!! 2nd Oct 2005 Sarah took us out for brunch and to show us some of Auckland, but pouring with rain so not good views - still looks a lovely place though. Went to a couple of shops and got a blow up mattress for the tent and a cool bag and plates etc... Roll on the camping!!! Looked into hiring a car and found a good deal - works out at about 7 pounds a day! I cooked dinner and then we collapsed in bed - jet lag catching up with us!! 3rd Oct 2005 Terry picked up the hire car first thing, so we went for a drive. So easy to drive around even though it's a city - the roads are so quiet. Drove along the coast until we found Kelly Tarlton's aquarium - saw penguins, sting rays (being fed), sharks, fish, eels, crayfish, an octopuss etc... - big underground place, quite impressive. Went back to Sarah's and fell asleep again - had to be woken up for dinner - not sure about jet lag!!! 4th Oct 2005 First day without rain, so we got the bus into the city centre - Queen Street - and had a look round. Went in the All Blacks shop - rather a lot of stuff about the British Lions in there too, but we won't mention that!!! Had a walk round the harbour then got a ferry over to Rangitoto Island - a volcanic island about 20 mins by ferry, out in the bay. We climbed up to the summit of the island for some spectacular views back at Auckland, of the bay and the other islands. Back at Sarah's we took her out for an Indian - very nice!!! 5th Oct 2005 Raining again today, but left Sarah's and drove round the east coast to Whitianga where we found a campsite. Thought Auckland was lovely, but once you get out of the city it's just amazing - so green, rural, stunning!! Not another car on the roads. Pitched the tent just before it started raining again, then drove to Hot Water Beach where there are hot pools from the geothermic activity. Was freezing cold and pouring with rain but Terry had a paddle - burnt his feet a bit as it was so hot. Didn't stay long as soaked through!! Got back to the campsite to find our tent in a pool of water so moved it to a dryer spot! 6th Oct 2005 Managed to get the tent down before it started raining again. Headed further along the coast during the morning, then decided to head for Rotorua - it's great having a car, map and the open road - can go wherever we like! Knew when we got to Rotorua - could smell the sulphur1 As Kevin Wilson would say.... 'Rotorua - that's mouri for who farted'!!!! There's steam rising all over the place - parks, gardens, from the drains in the road.... Found a good campsite then walked into town to an Irish Bar for the evening - had a good live band! Came out of the bar at closing and guess what - it was pouring, so we had to get a taxi back to the campsite! Will it ever stop? 7th Oct 2005 Woke up to blue skies so got out quickly and went to Agrodome just down the road, where we watched the world famous sheep show! Saw shearing, dog displays etc.. a bit of fun!! Plans of going for a walk in the afternoon were ruined by the weather, so we hung around the campsite! 8th Oct 2005 Up early after the first good nights sleep (getting used to the tent now). Packed up and left Rotorua, heading for Taupo. Stopped at Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland on the way. Had a walk round the craters and pools with great colours from the sulphur and minerals, but stinking!! Saw Lady Knox Geyser erupting and then more longer walks around, when we got soaked - yep, it was raining again! Got to Taupo and enquired about sky diving! Then found a free campsite on the banks of a beautifully clear river - the previous owner loved backpackers so left it to the world!!! Pitched tent in between showers and sat enjoying the setting!! Can get the tent up in record time now and cooking on the stove isn't so bad!! 9th Oct 2005 First night without rain and a beautiful morning! Got to the skydive centre and got kitted out, but it clouded over and after waiting for ages we were told we wouldn't be able to jump that day! So we headed for Stratford, down the Forgotten World Highway - a great road to drive down for the scenery. Passed through Wangamomona and stopped atthe hotel for a drink - this tiny place declared itself a republic a few years ago and you can get your passport stamped - but we decided not to ask as there were so many locals in the hotel bar - bit embarrassing!!! Got to Stratford and tried to get hold of Mel & Shane (more friends of friends), but couldn't so found roast lamb for $10 then found somewhere to stay - had to pay for a room because it wouldn't stop raining to get the tent up!! 10th Oct 2005 Got hold of Mel & Shane and drove back the way we'd come to there place. Despite their address being Stratford they live 45 mins away in the middle of nowhere! Wow! They have a 500 acre farm, but with Shane's dad's land next door the total for the family is 2250 acres. Quite a walk to the nearest neighbours! They have sheep, cows, goats, pigs, chickens, 13 dogs and 3 cats - and Mel's pregnant - got their hands full!!! After a cup of tea Shane took us out on the quad bike to see some of the land and move some sheep - great fun, but of course got soaked! Then we watched him shear some sheep and Terry had a go -impressing us all at how quickly he picked it up! Another roast dinner.... I think we've found heaven!! |