Hillside Hotel and Nature Resort Hamilton

... after all one thing NZ isn't short of is National Parks. However, a quick look at the map showed there was actually a place with the name National Park, right on the edge of Tongariro National Park. Could be confusing? Nevertheless we set off into the rain in that direction.<br><br>The first thing that became obvious as we climbed away from the coast is that the overnight rain had been pretty widespread. Most of the rivers were in full flood and there were rockfalls and ...

... dark hair] and my second impression was 'wow, who do you think you are?'... as these things go. That night I meet the other room mate: a swiss athletic-science guy who is working on his phD in Auckland. We all have a nice pillow talk sesh (I've noticed that, when on the road, boys do this more often than girls. Whenever I am being kept up by murmering, 2 out of 3 times it's boys) I learn that PrettyP just came from traveling South America and he entertains us with ...

... behind me with cellotape already in hand. I twitch. Wasn't he just watching the telly on the other side of the room.. facing the other direction? "Ya, sure, thanks," I say offering the the headphones with a guilty shrug, as if I was the naughty child who broke them in the first place. "I think if you put it right here they'll work... Great. Thanks." Okayyyy, this is just plain horror movie status. Youuuu should always sleeeeep with a lollipop in your mouuuuuth ...

... people seem to get jived about is the surf! Raglan is known for its surf due to a number of factors. Firstly, they have a series of left-facing point breaks, which is unique. That is the land jets out and as the surf (swells) come in, the waves break to the left (if you were riding it). There are a series of them in a row (Whale Bay, Indicators, Manu Bay,) and if the conditions were right you could ride one big wave from Whale Bay to the Beach. They also ...

... me to enjoy the rest of my time in NZ ... 'ageing disgracefully'! I said goodbye to my tour driver/guide, and fully expect to be able to reciprocate their kindness and hospitality at some point in the future when they do their European tour and include North Yorkshire in the itinerary. PS: You can find the Riff Raff statue in downtown hamilton on victoria Street. this is a tribute to Richard O'Brien, author of The Rocky Horror ...

... My eyes are wide open and when I close them, they bring up the shadows of my favourite memories. The air is always fragrant; with flowers, dinner cooking, rain swollen clouds. Sometimes I walk with my eyes shut just for a moment to give myself a break from the sensory overload. It's amazing how much your brain devours and processes when everything is new and unfamiliar. Another wonder is that I get to be anonymous. I get to have moments that are totally and completely my ...

For Tane's birthday I decided to organise a surprise murder mystery party. Alas comunication around the hospital can be like chinese whispers and when 'DON"T TELL TANE' was part of the message that was lost alas the surprise was slightly spoiled by a well meaning but confused friend. However the night was a great success. Everyone dressed up fabulously in 1920's gangster regalia and got well and truly into their role. Though all were surprised when my ...

... easy. I quickly learned to recognise when a wave was going to break and when to get the hell out of the way because it was about to mush me! The instructors were pretty hands on at first, pulling and pushing us into waves, telling us when to paddle and yelling out what we were doing wrong. After a while we all started to get the hang of it a bit more and I even managed to stand up! Only for a few seconds, but it was amazing. As I came ...

... Karioi Lodge for another night, she moved down to Raglan Bkpackers the next day. Our amazing days in Raglan were spent relaxing, reading books in hammocks, walking along the beachs and surfing....lots of surfing!!! Surfing at dusk was probably my favourite though, it was pretty breathtaking to see the views as the sunset, and I almost had to pinch myself to realise that i was actually there! Other than that, good food was the agenda for Raglan, and ...