Travels without a Plan #2

Bay of Islands and Rotorua

I can’t believe that it has only been around 10 days of travelling, I seem to have been on the move for some time, but it’s all fun and its great meeting so many people all doing the same thing.

Anyhow, what have I been up to??


Well after Auckland, went up to Bay Of Islands, which is a totally beautiful area of the North Island with around 200 little Islands dotted around its bays (as the name suggests), of course being Easter the place was totally jammed, with no place to stay at all, but luckily being a bit organised I booked ahead, to a place called the Pickled Parrot, which is the most laid back hostel I’ve ever stayed in, set in beautiful sub-tropical gardens.

Four nights was not nearly enough, too much to do. I managed to squeeze in Dune Boarding, roaring down the biggest sand dunes you have ever seen on basically a bit of wood, great fun. Managed to achieve the 3rd furthest distance, although I have a feeling that it’s all to do with body weight rather than any type of skill!

Drove down 90 mile beach, a beach that is only accessible via specialised vehicles, and due to the nature of the sand you have to drive in the surf, which is rather surreal. Went sailing around the bay, which just ended up as a dolphin watching trip. Amazing, hundreds of them playing by the boat. There were too many babies, so we were unable to swim with them. Pity but the welfare is the most important factor!!

Lots of interesting people at the hostel, a guy working there from Cornwall, he started of on a 6 month trip and has not been back for 2½ years!! An Australian girl from Brisbane who had been travelling for 2 years, who will be going home for a few months before setting off again for Europe, she has suggested that I should pop over once I’m in Sydney – it’s only a 20 hour drive!! (I think I’m starting to get a feel of what travelling in Oz is going to like). A girl from Washington DC training to be a doctor, and the maddest guy from the States, who fell into every stereotype around – loud, brash and a total adrenaline junkie, who had done 5 bungy jumps, 3 sky dives. After a drunken evening with him, I asked what he did. He owns his own pet grooming parlour in Santa Monica. My god, I would never trust my pet with this man, although from the sound of it he has done very well for himself!!

Then to Rotorua, which is the thermal centre of New Zealand and stinks of rotten eggs all caused by the sulphur that is being released from the ground. Went on a tour of the thermal areas, amazing, brightly coloured rocks caused by all the chemicals, bubbling mud pools, boiling water holes!! I never would have guessed that it would be possible to take 40 photos in one day!!

Have arrived in Taupo, in the worst weather that you could imagine, I don’t think I have ever seen rain like it. The news is full of stories about people being killed on the roads as the conditions are so bad!! It’s a real pity as I had hoped to go on a Tandem Skydive but the weather has been too bad to attempt to do so, so I’ve had too put this on hold for now and attempt it somewhere else.

Anyhow next it’s onto Wellington, the Capital City of New Zealand, for a bit of culture before heading over to the South Island. The connection speeds are slow and the prices are very high, so I shall leave it at this for now.