Tuscany on Thames

... with 80 beds and a full gas-powered kitchen complete with utensils, I continued to the final leg up to the peak. This consisted of a set of fairly new and achingly steep set of stairs and ladders climbing to a lookout. With a bit of grunting and scrambling, I reached the top to find spectacular views extending beyond the rugged volcanic valley on to the Pacific. Perched high on a jagged boulder, I had a 360 degree view of dense jungle, sheer cliff faces, verdant grazing paddocks, and ...

... even have HOT showers! This takes a bit of getting used to as both Alasia and I have always carried everything with us whenever we go for an overnight hike. <br><br>The Pinnacles hut was amazing, as was the views, there was actually no other people up at the hut besides the warden (park ranger) so we had this huge structure to ourselves. We woke up before dawn for a trip up to the top to watch the sun RISE over the Pacific Ocean!<br>The next day when we ...

... of a swim, but considering the drive we still had to do, time and being salty didn't quite appeal. We did manage to stop at Purangi winery for a tasting of every sort of wine. We were introduced to feijoa. An amazing guava/pineapple tasting fruit which grows more readily in New Zealand than kiwi fruit! Back in the car we set off for Roturua, but only made it as far as Tauranga before tiredness and hunger dictated the stop.

... cove we took off to Hot Water Beach. At Hot Water beach all you have to do is dig a whole, sit in it and you have you hot springs. Some of the hot water flows down the beach but nobody is able to go into it because it is way to hot. A lot of people try and they scream very loudly. There were a lot of people at the ...

... exploring and work and where else better to implement this than in NZ. So to kick off this "new" approach. I had a weekend away with two other au pairs. We traveled to Thames, Coromandel Town , Hahei, Cathedral Cove, Hot Water Beach, and a few walks in between.  The weekend started off with Anna's "new" car, well new to the broke au pairs. New to the car industry in 1991. Hey but she did us ...

... Plymouth) and their friend Ilea. When we got to Coromandel, we drove by the area the festival was going to be, and it looked horrible. There were about 6 tents, you had to pay $60, and then pay for food and everything once you were inside. And we were planning on camping that night becuase you would be paying for camping with that initial $60. Luckily, we didnt have any cash when we got there, and had to leave to find an atm. After we left to get cash ...

... to teach everyone how to line dance. Needless to say, it was a late night for everyone and no one was feeling very well when it was time to get us to the plane in the morning. But in the end Kailey and I made it. We did have to wait through a very long line which was ********sidering how we were feeling but after some food, we were ready to leave New Zealand and head for Australia. WOO- HOO! I'm done New Zealand!

... picture of the rare kokako and saddlebacks, although the flightless takahe seemed to have the day off. Well worth the ensuing battle through the Auckland rush hour to get to Thames.<br><br>Our route now is planned through the central volcano district and via Taranaki, before we get our South island ferry on longest day 21st December for Christmas in Golden bay. Meanwhile the trees are in flower and the Sally Army are playing carols in the heat. It's confusing being upside down!