The Hobbit Motorlodge Ohakune

... were great fun and really friendly and I boarded with them all day Sunday... they've invited me to stay with them when I'm back in Auckland and I'll probably take them up on it... its a shame all my contacts live in Auckland but I'm starting to understand why... its where the work is for starters but also there isn't a lot in some of the smaller towns and not a lot nearby either! Great for me travelling through but to live there ...

... a three wheel car used for the inauguration of a US president.There was also the ultimate pimp car, full of brass. <br><br> After this visit, Sean was a very happy bunny. We continued our trip towards Ohakune. As usual, we go the the i site to look for bargains for the accommodation. The woman there found us a super cheap chalet, even cheaper than a backpacker place!! We were delighted. We also saw that some ski slopes were ...

... sleeps next to eachother in. Totally goofy, and you can imagine the name they give it. I'm happy to pass on that as tonight is the first time I get to use my tent. They have a nice camping area just outside the lodge with a babbling river next to it. The weather is cool and the tent designed for warmer weather but my sleeping bag is extremley warm so I know I'll be fine (I actually end up sweating). Also I'm looking forward to a good nights sleep. The last 2 days ...

... testen. Ab jetzt gibt es kein Zurueck mehr! Whakahoro ist das letzte Village und das letzte mal das eine Strasse an den Fluss fuehrt...fuer die naechsten drei Tage. So lange windet sich der Fluss durch den absolut unzugaenglichen Urwald...uebernachtet wird in einfachen DOC Huetten am Fluss. Die Landschaft ist wunderschoen! Meisstens wird der Fluss von bis zu 50 Meter hohen Felswaenden flankiert, an denen allerlei gruenes ...

... ready, the track was packed as far as we could see. The start at an altitude of 1100m and at its highest it reaches 1900m, it is quite steep at some points, particularly on the 1st 3rd of the way. We had been advised to be ready for cold conditions and rapid weather changes, so we were wearing several layers, but going up hill in the sun we soon were too warm and had to remove all layers but one. The scenery as you walk up the hill is truly amazing and unreal, almost ...

... to us and when the first cabin changed their TV to radio it switched off our TV - this was the cause of many visits to the campsite office and our two neighbours who were also experiencing difficulties with their TVs. We didn't notice this prob the first day as it was very very warm (as previously mentioned) so we were out and about. But the second day there it rained and as the town was very small we were limited with ...

Just a quick one, about to go walking in the national park, went blackwater rafting this morning and saw lots of glowworms. Have had the camper for two days now since we left Auckland and are heading slowly south. Will update again soon. Love Jonny + Hatty

... the next vista, we could have chosen to walk to the top of Mt. Tongariro, but again, no way!!! 17 km is enough by itself without adding more to it! The next bit was supposed to be windy, but it was luckily fine. Then we crested the next hill and got a beautiful view of the emerald lakes below. But then came the steep descent. I am not too good going downhill, and this was very loose, volcanic rock. So we all just basically slid ...

I think I probably already explained my cluelessness and our utter lack of preperation for the cold weather in NZ. The one (and only!) benefit of the weather however was that there was still snow on the slopes. In fact they've had so much snow this year they extended the season by 3 weeks. Melika and Nick have a little batch (holiday house) down in Ohakune, which is the gateway to the Turoa and Whakapapa Ski Areas. Nick had planned to go down for a bit ...

... did I think? We tried various explanations - flare, sensor dust, moisture, lens dust - but the only one I could come up with that fitted the observable facts was "ectoplasm". He seemed almost pleased to have his own diagnosis confirmed . . . maybe this will be a famous day? I showed them my own "blob" of mist, and at least got some sympathy. Subsequently, the blob shrank and I tried some pictures, but they looked to be taken in mist. The blob then shrank further ...