At least its a white christmas - oh I mean bright!
Trip Start
Nov 26, 2007
1
7
17
Trip End
Mar 01, 2009
Paihia,
New Zealand
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
In Auckland we stayed at The Surf and Snow hostel in the middle of the city. Itwas nice, and so much better than Fiji in terms of cleanliness etc, but most of the people there were living there and as its a city they werent so friendly... so we decided we didnt want to stick around Auckland. After planning our journey we realised that to get to our prebooked accommodation in Paihia we had to organise our route and also we needed to book a room for new years, so we could stay in the city for a few days longer and be pretty bored and a bit fed up at not exploring or we could go to Waiheke island, which is where we went
Auckland
. (we also tried to go to the Coromandel Peninsula which we were told is amazing but we werent organised enough and missed the coach. So anyway, we stayed in Waiheke island for one night and lazed on the beach mostly. Its a very beautiful island and the sand is absolutely the softest ive ever troden on - much softer than fiji or the caribbean, like walking on flour! We were lazing on the beach and suddenly a couple we met in Fiji walked past, all a bit strange - they were visiting a friend, its a pretty romote island that not many people visit so we were quite suprised, but it was great to see them again.After Waiheke, we spent another night in the city before catching our first Magic bus to Paihia. We had a few reservations about the magic bus as we didnt want to be too tied downm but its a really good way to meet people and you learn loads from the driver as you go along and of course you dont get tired from all the driving! We are really glad now that we booked a few extra days up here (to fall in line with christmas) as there is loads to do. On Saturday we went on a huge sail boat called the R.J.Tucker Thompson. Its basically a huge pirate ship and as you can imagine Jonathan was in his element. I dont think i saw him stop smiling all day! You are sort of one of the crew for the day and help with pulling the sails up and down, learn how to tie the knots etc. Jonathan climbed the mast and rode up there for a bit which was pretty cool and also sat on the end of the boat (although he got a little queasy from that!) and he also used the swing rope to jump out into the sea
Kelly Tarltons in Auckland
. It was a great day and i highly recommend it for anyone up this way!On Sunday we went to Cape Reinga, which is at the top of the Northland. Its a very sacred place and the Maoris believe its where all their souls go to when they die, so you cant eat or drink there and its very beautiful. The floor is covered in broken small pieces of shell so its really pretty as it dazzles in the light. Then we went onto the quicksand land with the coach (you cant drive a hire car or van on it as insurance is invalid!) and then onto the Ninety Mile Beach (although its actually 60 miles!), which is an actual highway with a speed limit etc. On the way home we went to the sand dunes where you walk up a huge sand hill and then sand board down to the bottom. At first you think, 'oh yeh thats fine, ill have a go' and then you start walking up. About half way up you get really tired and realise how far left you have to go and think 'hhhmm its actually quite high isnt it?!' But, by this time you cant chicken out and its so steep you cant walk down, the only way is up. Its really scary, but amazing, so glad i did it, great fun. Jonathan walked up there 4 times, God knows how he managed it, and on his last turn he flew off into the stream at the bottom and got relaly covered in sand - some of the peoples face on the coach was funny!
Penguins!
Then, yesterday we took another trip called 'a day in the bay'... I worked out this was the 27th boat journey we've had since we left!! It was a trip on a big boat aroudn the bay fo islands and out to the hole in the rock, which is a big hole carved out from the sea that you can actually go through and then swimming with dolphins. It was a really nice day and we got to swim with a pod of about 6 dolphins.
So, today is Christmas day! Last night we went to the small green and heard a few carols but other than that they dont seam to celebrate that much (at least not commercially). Weve just finished a huge barbeque with the biggest fish ever and i had a small christmas pudding so i felt a little more british christmasy! Weve brought loads of chocs and marshmellows too. Its funny, all the other brits at the hostel and us have been all talking about how much christmas is about seeing how much food you can eat and then sleeping on the sofa! The other nationalities dont seem so bothered about gorging and are pacing themselves, but we are carrying on!!
We are leaving Paihia on the 27th to go back to Auckland for an over night stay (you have to stay certain places on the magic bus) and then its off to Waitomo for the black water rafting, which looks great. Merry Christmas everyone, hope its been more christmasy than ours, but im sure ours has been hotter!! xx
