Rosetown Motel Te Awamutu

... waves we headed down to what is known as the Kauri Coast.

The Kauri Coast

Even before arriving in New Zealand we had heard about Kauri trees. Alasia had told me that if there was one thing she wanted to see on the North Island it was these trees. More to the point, the biggest Kauri trees left anywhere in NZ. Most of the North Island was once covered with these incredible trees but unfortunately deforestation has claimed all but a ...

We got to Waitomo just in time for a tour of the Glowworm caves. Our tour guide was a bit strange to say the least - she showed us the caves and the different formations. We got in a boat and went along the river to see the glowworms. They are pretty cool but they look fake - like fairy lights on the ceiling! Glowworms are basically larvae of ...

... was enthusiastic and warm. It's amazing the
difference when you encounter someone who likes what they do. He
does – and it shows. The tour was cool: the highlight being of
course the silent boat ride in the dark. For 10 or 15 minutes your
head is lifted to the cave ceiling which looks like a galaxy –
thousands of glowies lit up. Can't take any pictures (would ruin the
experience for everyone else) so please look it up online.

... bunnys needed shaving they are ridicliously fluffy. Aparently they are feed a special diet that makes there fur grow about 3 inch per month. The fur is then used to make gloves, hats, etc. Even though the shaving process looks really mean we were assured that the bunnys were not harmed in the slightest during the process.

... bubbling around the edges. We had a really nice day weather-wise as well, having taken 6 layers, we only really needed one or two at any point! We did it in 7 hours, which is about right - 6 hours without breaks, and we were taking loads of photos and stuff. Were very pleased we did one proper walk, as we have done lots of short 3 hour or so ones but not a proper day one, mainly due to lack of time and trying to see ...

... day! Having seen all there is to see in Taupo, we left and set off for a day touring around some of the North Island - Linda had got the day off and graciously took the role of tour guide and companion, which was so good of her (and perhaps her calling in life!) We drove to Rotorua and went up the gondola for fantastic views of the lake and city below. I bought us lunch at the top and we basked in ...

... respective fields the cows enter a holding area that can be reduced in size to move them to the rotary milking area. The milking is done by machines with only the actual milking cups needing to be attached by hand and they have air suction to assist. After giving me quick instruction of how to do this I must have done at least 3 or 4 before deciding that I would rather watch Kristy!! The thought of getting hit by any cow waste kind of put me ...

After our cave adventure we had an extra day to spend somewhere before heading back to Auckland due to the cancelled Tongariro crossing walk and another failed skydive due to bad weather. So the time had come for Frodo and Sam to head for home. When Peter Jackson and New Line Cinemas were scoping out the countryside looking for a location for the Shire they flew over a farm just outside the ...

A very steamy place (and also quite stinky as it smells like sulphur)! Rotorura is in a thermal area of New Zealand with lots of hot springs, hot bubbling mud pools and volcanic activity. We also went mountain biking - it is supposed to be one of the 10 best trails in the world (I'm sure Parry and Fig are jealous)

... They even spell it right. I have been having a REALLY tough time whenever we go out somewhere with the whole "not tipping" thing. If you know me then you know this is against my religion and really hard to get used to. It feels wrong on so many levels!!! Speaking of wrong...It is December and they are talking about how the cool weather has affected the cherry crop this year (this is supposed to be in June!!) I know, when in ...