Last Night in Auckland

New Zealand has been incredible...apparantly this is what Tassy (Tasmania) is like so I feel better about the fact that I didnt go. I really wish we could spend more time here...I would love to backpack this country (North and South Island) for a good 4 weeks...there is just so much to see. And i'm loving the culture of the Maoris...I'm trying to refrain from buying huge wooden statues...I'll save that for a time when I have my own place!!

After the natural hot springs in Taupo we headed up through Rotorua again and I finally got to Zorb! As I mentioned previously, I saw it on Amazing Race years back and thought it was the coolest thing. It was created in New Zealand and the franchise is extending all around the world...they are making one in Whistler. Anyways they give u zorbing clothes and you take a ute (pronounced "youte" short for suv or truck or anything other than a car...anything thats a "utility vehicle") up the hill and then you wait for the Zorbalator to bring a zorb to the top. The zorb is this huge ball like thing. You can go in it wet or dry, so we chose a wet one and they filled it with warm bathwater and we dove in like supergirls (me and jen). Then you stand up like you are a big hamster in the ball and when he gives it a tap you start running to up the momentum...and then you cant keep up and you are sliding around in this ball with water splashing on the inside while it rolls down the hill...it was soooo much fun! I would definitely reccommend it!! We were soaked after!



We have been blessed with great weather through the trip, and although its cold, its not rainy like it was last week. This country is full of green rolling hills with beautiful mountains and sheep everywhere. Much prettier than Australia! I think everyone out there needs to see this place at least once! From Rotorua we drove north to Mt. Maunganui, which is this beach town built around a mountain.

We didnt get to spend much time there, because this morning we left for Auckland. Realized it was Canada Day! So we are going to get some patriotic spirit going tonight and celebrate like true Canadians! I'm sad about missing stampede but with my recent riding experience and cowboy hat and boot purchase I am more of a cowgirl than I ever was! Really missing home...1/4 of my backpacking experience is now over and I can't wait to come home!

Love Free Natural Beauty!!

Well we are still in Taupo...so glad we got an extra day here! Today we had a great day...I got some really cool New Zealand products made out of the very mud we saw in Rotorua! As you all should know, mud has lots of excellent detoxifying, renewing and healing proporties! So i had to pick some up of course! Anyways, then we hiked to some random beautiful natural hot pool...it was right out of a movie. Its been pretty cold outside...the nights go to -2C and the days are between 9 and 11 degrees celcius so we were hoping the water would be hot...and was it ever! So we got into our bikinis and entered this beautiful oasis in the middle of lush green ferns and a crystal clear warm steaming waterfall. And I have pictures to prove it! It was just incredible...and the best part was that it was free! Wish I could put a picture up but I dont have my computer cord. Then we just walked around Lake Taupo, climbed a tree and chilled in it, and drank a yummy cappaccino. Life as a backpacker is great!

Kia Ora from the Land of the Long White Cloud!

Kia Ora! (That is a Maori greeting meaning hello!) Currently in Taupo, New Zealand and I am absolutely in LOVE with this country! It has been incredible!

We flew into Auckland and left for Waitomo the next morning on the Magic Bus. When we got there we decided to do a Black Labyrinth Cave Tubing experience in a cave called Tia Amo. We passed cows on the road and trekked to the caves in gumboots and wet suits...I wasnt really sure what to expect! We decended into the dark damp cave and it was just wild...first we trecked through navigating our way through mud and rock, in knee deep water. Then we got into a lot deeper water and got into little tubes...then in the pitch dark we navigated the caves in tubes and looked at the glow worms all around us...they looked like tons and tons of stars in a pitch black sky...it was almost romantic...except we were in freezing cold water in a random cave instead of on a picnic blanket and we were looking at worms not stars!! I jumped backwards over a little waterfall and even went down a waterslide in the cave...it was definately an amazing experience!






That evening we drove into Rotorua and warmed ourselves up before going to a traditional Tamaki Maori Haka and Hangi. We got to see a Maori Village and eat food that had been cooked under the earth, and hear their songs and dances...it was so facinating.

Rotorua is a place of extreme geothermal activity and is right on the pacific rim plate...most of it is on volcanic area. So in Rotorua you walk around and see random areas of geothermal activity, meaning holes in the ground with steam coming out and violent bubbling mudpools! So i went to Wai-O-Tapo lonesome which is a geothermal wonderland and I saw tons of craters, sulpher pools of beautiful colors and lots of mudpools. I also went to a ropes course and jumped off of a 50 foot podium thing and swung around...it was free fall for a couple of seconds and it was an awesome rush! I feel like i've found my second wind here in New Zealand...

From Rotorua we came to Taupo, and yesterday we checked out some stores and nightlife. Today I decided to do a horse trek and I was the only one doing it so it was more like a private lesson. It was absolutely incredible...i think i really am a cowgirl at heart! I picked out a rugged pair of cowboy boots and my horse was a lovely chocolate brown wild breed named Mokai. We trekked along the country side and i got a breathtaking view of Lake Taupo...which is the largest crater lake in the world. We also had a little entorage of fantails following us! Tomorrow we are going to hike to a random hot spring river in the area and relax before taking a trek around the lake!



Then its off to Mount Manganui, Thames and Auckland!