Treks Backpackers Rotorua

I really wish I had started blogging earlier as I don't feel I am doing New Zealand justice and I leave in just a few days! So I've decided to try to run through as much of my trip in the North Island, while making it short but sweet! So about three and a half weeks ago I flew into Auckland. I quite liked Auckland although I had met many people who didn't! Ok so it doesn't have quite the same charm as Wellington or Christchurch, but it is a nice laid back city, easy to get around, and there a...

Hello Eeveryone Well, we made it to the most smelliest place in New Zealand. Rotorua is a town located in the middle of a crater - you can actually see the rim of the crater from the top of Rotorua's Museum and it has a constant smell of sulphur as a result of the vast amount of volcanic activity located 2 km beneath the town. Doug and I arrived in Rotorua on 4th March after a 4 hour bus journey from Auckland. I didn't see very much of the landscape as we travelled south east as I was alseep ...

Arrived safely from Australia having had to go through a rigorous process to get in. They are so strict I had to have my boots washed because I said I had been on a farm!! Oh well that over Scenic Circle Airdale Hotel made up for it as I was double-booked into one room they gave me a suite instead - bargain. Picked up early on day one of my 21 day New Zealand Tour of North and South Islands. Its a bit drizzling but its not cold. North Island Day 1 - Auckland to Bay of Islands. Going to Bay of...

Well, it is New Year's Eve here and I am in Rotorua. This is home to New Zealand's geothermic area - hot water geysers, mud pools, hot springs, etc. The same as Yosimite National Park in the US but just a bit smaller. I checked into the Treks Backpackers hostel yesterday - it is pretty nice and very spacious. Apparently, it is one of the first facilities built with backpackers in mind, not just a house or motel renovated or remodeled into a hostel. It still is lacking some of the details that...

After our fantastic time in Auckland, it was on the road southbound to our second job, working at Brookvale Farm (home to Warren, Lynise and Eviannah). They were a great mob, very welcoming and mega friendly. As with all Kiwis the accent takes a bit of getting used to. At the chippy we got "fush un chups" and when somesome says they are going for a "sex change" it just means they are putting on new foot garments. The work on the farm was spot on, no hassle and luckily no "pats" on the head! S...

Wow again! New Zealand keeps getting better & better. We stopped at Waitomo Caves on the way to Rotorua & took a trip walking through the caves & then on a boat on the underground river where there are thousands of blue gloworms hanging from the caves' ceiling. We weren't allowed to take pictures so you'll just have to take my word for it, they were amazing. Then we hopped back on the coach to Rotorua, which, whatever I'd been told, didn't smell as bad as I expected. Rotorua 'city...

I have left my job and the closest thing I've had to a home in a while. I finished work on Wednesday and had my dragonboating dinner. It was a good way to say goodbye to Beca and some of the people I've worked with. I sent a general good-bye email after closing the same day. I guess I could have sent it in the morning, but I'm terrible with good-byes. The past few days have been a bit of a drunken mess. I moved back to the Mount for the last time. I stayed in my old flat for one of the nights...

GOOOOOOOD MORNING! TODAY IS SKYDIVING DAY- I'VE WAITED SO LONG! I awoke this morning to a panicked Ross hissing in my ear: "We're late! We need to be at the airport in a half hour!" That woke me up! We threw our clothing into our suitcases, packed everything up, and ran to the car. Headed to the airport, I scanned the skies, looking for parachutes. I was rewarded at the entrance to the airport, gazing at the tiny figures, knowing it would be me soon. Our jump was set for 8:30 am at Taupo Tand...

Rotorua Blog Howdy from the smelliest place on Earth! No, not my sock drawer but Rotorua! This place is officially closest to the Earth's crust and therefore layers of volcanic rock and sulphur mix with the air and produces a somewhat eggy smell. There is also lots of steam venting from various parts of the city and natural hot springs are everywhere.....although if you do go in them, you smell of **** for about three days afterwards! We has fun again on the way here as the Kiwi Experience bu...