Kennedy Point Vineyard Waiheke Island

... with snow on them.

I spent the night in Franz Josef, and went out for some good beer deals (2 NZ dollars per pint) with a Brit who was biking the whole south island, and two south Africans. We had a great night and great conversations. The next day, I walked up to the Franz Josef glacier. Had a peak, took some pics, breathed in the cool air, and chilled out. Hitched back to town, grabbed my bag, and hitched out of town with a Belgium ...

After practically zero sleep we have arrived in Auckland.... at last! Greg and Abs are waiting for us at arrivals, Greg had told Abs to be looking out for a good looking blond and a slightly overweight balding bloke...nice! Anyways, it was so good to see greg again after 3.5 years and great to meet abi for the first time. We dumped our bags at their house (3 bed with garden about 5mins from centre of town.... oh the life to be had!) and headed out for a quick tour of the ...

... an hour or so Rob calls for help lowering the old water tank down from its lofty position cradled neatly between the rafters. Friction took most of the tanks weight aiding Andre and myself in its creeping descent. Friction being our friend in this instant was soon to become our enemy, the battle beginning when the new tank had been lashed to the beams ready for us to hoist into position. 1..2...3... nothing! Again...1...2...3...jiggle and hoist! Inch worm, inch worm! The bloody ...

... to swim with the dolphins. We saw plenty but they had their babies with them and the law says you can't swim where they are so I had to be content with watching. The 12th February saw us taking a long drive south to Rotarua where we only stayed one night and we rushed off to Mai-o-Tapo so we could see the Lady Know geyser erupt at 10.15 a.m. Soap is added at that time to make it erupt and without that it would ...

... the Sky Tower and had great views across the city on a warm, clear morning. Went to the main observation deck, which in sections the floor was clear so you could see past your feet directly down to the ground - 60 floors or so. Jen's fascination for heights isn't as strong as mine!! Watched a couple of people jump off the building - there was even a countdown so you could watch the jumps. Went to the upper deck which at only a few floors further up didn't look much different ...

... cam link up with friends from home - although a few sound problems and possibly too much alcohol hindered any coherant conversation! We loved Waiheke so much that we decided to stay for a further 3 night on the island, this time at a backpackers on Onetangi. To enhance our island experience we hired a car, not just any car but a nissan sunny - get in! We spent our last 3 days on the ...

... for a few drinks. Although the drinking age is 18 in New Zealand, Connie and I were thrilled when we got carded anyway (hooray!). We were even pleasantly surprised by the live band, which was pretty good. They even did an emo version of Outkast's "Hey Ya" that was, amazingly, pretty good. After shakin', shakin' like a polaroid picture, we headed back to rest up for the next day's activity: wine tasting on Waiheke Island. For you ...

... a load of drivel about the wonderful experience we were about to have, interspersed with plenty more deep breaths, very long pauses (Kirsty was about to ask him if he was alright at one point) and supercilious beams of smugness of a level which defies description. During this, the couple who were clearly to be leading the workshop were sitting cross legged at the front, a white woman and a Maori man, smiling dreamily at each other, he occasionally twitching, grimacing and exhaling ...

... some of the local brews from the island and a couple of the wines. New Zealand is famous for its Sauvignon Blanc wine, but apparently not on Waiheke as they have more red wines. We planned on lounging around outside and enjoying one of the beers but were not allowed to consume beverages outside the building. Probably a good thing since we had more biking ahead of us. No PUIs for us (Peddling Under the ...

... toen ik in het hostel aankwam, bleek het best wel een zooitje). Maar goed, ik had een bed, zat weer op Waiheke en het aantal spinnen hier was dragelijk. Maar...
Niet dragelijk waren al die klote bedbugs die mijn in mijn tweede nacht aanvielen! Eerst werd ik 's avonds, ondanks mijn insect-repellent, al bijna opgegeten door de muggen (ze staken door mijn kleding heen) en 's nachts dus die bedbugs. Het zijn een soort kleine mijten, die in ...