(We did not stop in Gisborne - it was chosen for the map pin while at sea.) This is was our first day at sea between Tauranga and Napier, so we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and lunch. The seas were very rough, so I finally had to take my seasick meds. I attended the first of two Cruise Critic Connections parties in the morning. Stephanie did so...

15th to 18th Jan 2008 On Tues, 15th we left Raglan and headed for Waitomo to visit the famous caves. We spent around 4 hours there visiting the various caves. I decided to do the Spellbound tour, the only one that didn't get you wet or crawling through small, narrow spaces. After all of us were back from the various cave tours, we headed out of ...

We woke up the next day and bizarrely weren't ******** ourselves about falling 15,000m from a plane. The only concern at that time was the clouds which were looking a bit too thick. We'd devised a cunning plan for the next week or so which meant that we couldn't hang about and so when they came back and said it was too cloudy but we could possib...

Today they had a xmas parade on Main St - and it was the most random parade I have ever seen, and just like AJ, I LOVE Randomness! It was great, there were a lot of costumes and aliens for some reason. The best was a float full of 4-wheelers and aliens followed by a float of baby Jesus. Sweet As. Oh! and Bagpipers! My Favey! But that was about a...

After all those months, slaving away, ahem, it was time for me to enjoy a long weekend and go to one of the far reaches of NZ. Gisborne is up in the north east and is generally ignored by all except the hardiest travellers who then go on around the East Cape. The reason I was going was Cass asked me if I fancied going to a food and wine festival...

A Kiwi Christmas and a New Year in New Zealand My first Christmas and New Years away from home on the beautiful beaches of Gisborne. After a Christmas celebration with our dear friends in Auckland, Laura and I decided to go visit her hometown called Gisborne. Our last night in Auckland, Sara and I cooked a Christmas dinner and we celebrated by o...

Following on from my last update....I left Napier on the next Kiwi Experience bus (with the hangover from hell) and joined a new group and driver to head onto Gisborne. On the way we stopped off at a winery, bleurgh!! I couldn't really face any more wine tasting after the previous day so sipped water at the back of the group instead and pretende...

Having left Emily in Taupo we made our way across the Island to the East coast. Gisborne is a funny named and slightly strange place. Its pretty small and 'local.' Its claim to fame is that it was the first place one Captain Cook landed on his first voyage to these parts and so as you can imagine there is a big statue of the man himself and the ...

I'm on the move. I left Christchurch on Monday night and drove straight to Nelson. Two words: Talk Radio. I just keep telling myself how much sweeter music will be when I make it home. Anyway I headed back to Mot and picked up a few things and left my wetsuit for Mike. Seems there was some drama and this cleared out the camp. On Tuesday I made i...

I woke up at quarter to 5 in the morning and had that sudden, sinking feeling when you know something is terribly wrong. My MEC day bag that had been beside me in my bed was gone and in it had been everything of value or importance that I had with me in New Zealand. It was the early hours of New Years Day and I was staying in a backpackers (host...