Orongo Bay Homestead Russell

Hello again, So after my return to Auckland I have some time left and decide to head up to the Bay of Islands, not quite sure what to expect but have heard some nice things about the place. Also Ruud en Marisch (aunt and uncle) have some friends who live up there so I decided to go and visit them. The drive takes a few hours and we stop off to hug a big fat tree. Sounds a wee bit bizarre I know But Kauri trees are very famous in NZ and they grow in a ...

... a day of fresh air. Mabel x Ok, lets put the record right, Mac would have been ok if Mable wasn't driving the 10 year old Toyota Starlett like her old MX5. It rolled like a cork in a storm! Lucky Mac didn't have any breakfast so there was nothing to come up. The road gave them many kodak moments AND the ferry was NOT clearly marked on the map, it was obviously some well kept local secret, so there! Russell was lovely, had the nicest Police ...

... Islands angemeldet. Das Wetter war uebrigens auf der gesamten Nordtour ziemlich trueb und wolkig. In unserem Zimmer war noch ein total chilliger Bayer, der sich 3-4 Monate Zeit im Jahr rausnimmt um zu Reisen. Klaus (der Bayer) ist jetzt 40 und hat schon ueber 193 Laender der Erde bereist und hatte daher echt geile Storys zu erzaehlen!! Am Abend gings dann so um 5 Uhr los mit unseren Kanus. Wir ...

... is New Zealand's oldest (1836) stone building, and the Mission House (Kemp's House) is New Zealand's oldest standing wooden house. Intended as a storehouse, the Stone Store gradually turned into a general stoare, and now it's a bit of a souvenir shop selling things like hand-forged nails and other products in keeping with its history - like lethal looking scythes. The Kerikeri Mission House was the second ...

... the opposite sex. Me and the other girl on our team refused so no points for us. Other people flung clothes off and on again in a frantic bid for points. "Some people really want to win" I commented to a German Guy on our team (almost everyone in New Zealand is German). "Or they just really want to get naked" he wisely replied "That's true" I conceded. This evening I learned that some people are really smart and some people have little shame.

... Reinga. Atravesamos la playa de las 90 millas (en realidad tiene unos 90 km) con el bus, una playa salvajemente grande e impresionante, comimos fish and chips (todos los kilos perdidos se nos van a ir al carajo) y visitamos el bosque Puketi Kauri, con arboles gigantes (aqui todo es grande!). Buen aperitivo para lo que nos espera... By Pato Who those that coursed us because of our polynesian experience... here we are in winter: cold and rainy. But we have to ...

... our faces with mud (supposedly a very good and obviously very natural face mask), we made our way back to the hotel and had our first dip into the hot pools. The pools were amazing, there were around 10 different pools all beside each other, each with its own temperature. These are all completely natural and are not altered in any way, a true representation of how strange and amazing nature is. After a good soak and a much needed shower so we didn´t all stink of sulpher, the ...

... it doesn't seem to be a problem. Everyone is recommending I put it in the water to help it so what can you do but listen. :) The beach is just 2 1/2 blocks from my hostel and that's very doable at this point. Still trying to keep my foot elevated so my adventures are limited at this point. Alex, who is up here, as well, works on a boat and is going to see if his boss is going to take the ...

... hill, about half way up.<br><br><br><br>It was a pretty steep climb, but we knew it would be worth it.<br><br><br><br>Sure enough we had a great panoramic view of the area and I think we also had the best weather of the day, it was lovely up there.<br><br><br><br>After about ten minutes of enjoying the views we headed back ...