New Zealand '08

Visitors!

claremccallum — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 12:04:00 GMT

Hello Everybody!

Sorry I haven't updated this for absolutley ages! We've been pretty busy these past few months what with working in Dunedin and then touring around with Sarah, Katie and Steve these past few weeks (I know, it's a hard life!).

So, after working in Dunedin for 2 months and saving up all our money, we then went and blew it all on an amazing three weeks travelling with Sarah, Katie and Steve! After their arrival late on a Friday evening, there wasn't much time for jet-lag recovery as we were picking up our campervan (named 'Big Bertha') first thing Saturday morning and hitting the open road to the sound of some pretty rubbish CD's bought by Tom!

Our first stop off was Lake Tekapo - a small village on the edge of a lake and surrounded by the snowy mountains of the Southern Alps. During our stay here, we visited the 'Church of the Good Shepherd', a tiny little picturesque church on the lakeside that overlooks the surrounding mountains. Also, had lots of fun ice-skating (even Tom, who managed to find skates in his size!) then spent the evening soaking in the village's hot pools, which were extra impressive in the snow.

Next up, headed for the Wanaka/Queenstown region where we splashed out on a fantastic day's skiing. Tom, Katie and Steve hadn't been before, so they had a couple of lessons and picked it up pretty quickly. Meanwhile, me, Sarah and Anna decided to just brave the slopes alone! Stuck to the beginner runs and managed ok (just about!). The biggest difficulty I had was vacating the chairlift! Ended up falling over twice and had to have the operator come drag me out of the way, much to Sarah and Anna's ammusement of course!

From Queenstown, headed South West to one of New Zealand's most isolated regions - the Fiordlands. Here, we did a fantastic boat trip on the Milford Sound, which was absolutely stunning. It is miles away from any civilistaion, and can only be reached by travelling through the famous 'Homer Tunnel', which runs right underneath an otherwise impassable mountain. From the boat we saw dolphins, seals, penguins, keas (a New Zealand parrot) and also managed to get up close to some awesome waterfalls, one of which would have soaked us if it wasn't for the very flattering red waterproofs we'd decided to wear for a laugh!

From Milford, made our way back along the South Coast, through Dunedin (where we saw sea-lions and a very close-up view of some yellow-eyed penguins), then back up to Christchurch to complete our circular trip of the South Island. In Christchurch, celebrated my birthday and all went out for a lovely meal in a mexican resteraunt. Was a fantastic night and so nice to have everybody there to spend it with.

Next up, flew up to Auckland (although sadly without Anna as she has stayed in Christchurch to work) to begin our final week of travels on the Northland. Stopped in Rotorua where we visited more hot spas and had lots of fun riding the luge. The others all had a go at zorbing (basically being rolled down a hill in a big inflatable ball) which looked like lots of fun, if not a little scary! Next visited the bay of Islands for a few good nights out in 'The Salty' and a few not so good days feeling hungover! Tom and Steve were crowned Kareoke Kings whilst Sarah got to know some of the local fisherman!

Finished our trip in Auckland with a trip up the sky tower to mark our final evening together. Had dinner at the top in a revolving resteraunt that gives you 360 degree views of the city whilst you eat. On the following evening had to say our goodbyes which was very sad after having such a nice time together. There was a few tears shed by most!

Now, me and Tom have returned to the Bay of Islands where we have work in a hostel. We basically clean for a couple of hours every morning in exchange for free accommodation. It will be a good way of saving money until Doug and Sharon's arrival in September.

Hope all is good back home. Thankyou for all the birthday cards and messages you sent out...they were really nice to read :-). Miss you all, and only 12 weeks till I'll be seeing you all agin! Time is flying by!

Lots of love,

Clarexxxx

The Glaciers to Dunedin

claremccallum — Tue, 20 May 2008 09:05:00 GMT

Hey guys,

Just another quick update!

Finished our journey down the West Coast with a stop off at the Fox and Franz Joseph glaciers. They were really impressive. We walked to the terminal of each and got some really good photos. There were also lots of guided tours you could take that allowed you to actually hike on the glaciers themselves. We were tempted by a helihike - you basically take a helicopter flight right up to the top of the glaciers where all the untouched snow is, then you are dropped off and do a two hours hike through the ice caves and pinnacles! It sounded like so much fun, but was quite expensive so we thought it might be best to leave it until later in the trip when we are more aware of how the funds are lasting! It's definitely a must-do though I'd say.

From the glaciers, travelled South again and stopped for a couple of days in Queenstown, where we were reunited with Pip! Was nice to see him again, and a good excuse to go out and drink some beer! Didn't really explore Queenstown too much, as we plan to go back there a little later in the year when the ski season is in full swing! May be somewhere to take Sarah, Katie and Steve when they come out here.

From Queenstown, travelled across to Dunedin, and have been here for three weeks now, looking for work. After a lot of tramping round with CV's (I think I must have covered every cafe in the whole city!), I've finally got a job working in the museum cafe. Had my first day yesterday and all went well. Everyone was really friendly and I think I'm going to enjoy working there. Tom is getting lots of work through a couple of temping agencies he's signed up with. It's not always the most flattering of jobs (one night he had to work in a poultry factory!!) but it's only for a couple of months and its a good way of topping up the funds.

As we are planning to stay in Dunedin for the nest couple of months, we have been trying to find a little flat to rent, as it would give us a bit more space and would probably work out cheaper than the hostels. Sadly, there doesn't seem to be much available to rent for such a short time period, so for the time-being we are staying in a really nice hostel called 'Hogwartz'. The owners are really friendly, and the hostel itself is very cosy. There is a log fire, and two little dogs that are always scurrying around scaveging for food!!

So thats pretty much me up-to-date I'd say! Hope all is well at home, and thanks for all the comments you've been sending! It's really nice to hear from you all!

Hope you all have a fantastic time at RHB! I am gutted to be missing out, especially as I'll no doubt be at work!!! Hope the weather holds for you, and have a beer (or 10) for me!!

Lots of love to you all,

Clarexxxx

The West Coast

claremccallum — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:53:00 GMT

Hey Guys! Another update:

8th April '08 - COLLINWOOD AND THE FAREWELL SPIT

From Picton, travelled North West (stopping for a short time in the Marlborough Sounds) until we reached the small hamlet of Collinwood. During our stay here, we visited the Farewell Spit - a large stretch of sand that marks the northern most point of the South Island. Only guided coach trips have access onto the Spit itself, so we decided to go for the cheaper option of viewing it from the nearby visitor centre! Here, you not only get a good viewing point, but you also get to learn lots about the importance of the area as an arrival destination for migratory birds! Cool eh?! Apparently, the Spit is home to over 30,000 migratory birds (the most noticeable being the black swan, of which we saw thousands), and many of them will have travelled a good 25,000km to arrive there! I thought this was incredible, but Anna and Tom just said I was a little bit weird for taking such an interest into something I'm usually scared stiff of! They are probably right!

11th - 14th April '08: THE ABEL TASMAN NATIONAL PARK

After our visit to the Farewell Spit, returned South to the Abel Tasman National Park where we did a three-day trek along the popular coastal path. Was the first time I've had to walk with a full rucksack on my back but managed surprisingly well. Fortunately, the going was pretty good with relatively little climbing, otherwise I may have found it more difficult. Also, Anna shared a tent with me and Tom, so that also helped to cut down on things to carry.

The walk itself is very beautiful. The route winds its way through native bushland along the coastline, passing some bonny little coves and sandy bays. There were a few tidal crossings to overcome which involved taking your boots and socks off and wading across an empty lagoon at low-tide in a foot deep pool of mud! Fun, but very puddly! Anna claims she stood on an eel!

The two campsites we stayed at were absolutely lovely. Completely basic (no facilities other than a toilet) but set in the most stunning locations. My favourite, Bark Bay, was almost like an Island. On one side was a white sandy beach and the open sea, and to the other was a clear blue lagoon. We pitched in a little wooded are between the two, and had a roaring camp fire in the evening. Tom scared the life out of me and Anna with his ghost stories!

All in all, a fantastic weekend, and magnificent weather to top it off!

14th - 16th April '08: St. ARNAUD (NELSON LAKES)

From the Abel Tasman, travelled South again to the Nelson Lakes National Park. The scenery here was very picturesque - quiet lakes surrounded by bush-covered mountains. We were kean to do some walking but sadly the weather turned on our arrival and it rained non-stop for a good couple of days. Also, the sandflies were out in there numbers - the worst we've encountered yet I'd say. Percerviered for a couple of nights and managed to fit in a few lowland walks, but in the end decided that in such poor weather without the shelter of a gnice cosy pub we ought to move on to somewhere a little more civilised!

16th-18th April '08: PUNAKAIKI

After leaving Nelson Lakes, continued South down the West Coast to the Paparoa National Park where we stayed in a little town called Punakaiki. After out three nights of camping in the pouring rain decided it was time to treat ourselves to a night in a hostel. Opted for a YHA associate called 'Te Nikau Retreat' and made a good choice! Was the coolest hostel we've stayed in yet. Our dorm was located in the midst of rain forest and was so cosy and well-looked after. Also, in the mornings, the owners baked fresh loaves of bread and homemade muffins! They were delicious!

Our hostel was just 10 minutes walk from the most amazing beach. A real contrast to the golden sands and still waters of the Abel Tasman, but equally impressive. It was very rugged and exposed, with jagged rocks and crashing waves. I loved it!

Also, visited the famous 'Pancake Rocks' which were only a 5 minute drive from the hostel. These are a series of rocks that are made up of alternate layers of limestone and mudstone, giving them the resemblance of a stack of pancakes (hence the name). We were forunate enough to see them at high tide and in quite a rough sea, so they were very impressive. Even saw a couple of blow holes in action which occur when the sea surges into caverns below the rocks then is forced upwards. Very Cool!

18th - 21st April '08: JACKSON'S RETREAT

From Punakaiki, drove inland a little to a fantastic campsite up in the mountains called Jackson's. The facilities were top notch with the most amazing log fire in the lounge! I'd say it was one of the nicest sites we've come across yet.

During our stay here, drove over to another beautiful lake called 'Lake Brunner' and ended up cimbing Mount Te Kinga. It was a very difficult walk, a steep climb from bottom to top over difficult bushland terrain. We nearly gave up on a few occasions! However, the effort was well worth it when we emmerged from the bushline and the views became apparent. It was a crisp clear day and you could sea the Tasman Sea to the west, the lake below and the awesome snow-capped mountains of the Southern Alps to the South! Amazing! In the evening finished the day off with a trip to the Jackson's tavern for a good hearty meal and a few pints infront of the fire! Tom went for a dish called 'The Log of Hog' which I'm sure must have conatined about half a pig!

Well, think I'm pretty much up to date again now. Just heading to the Fox and Franz Joseph Glaciers now which look fantastic, so will let you know how we get on.

Hope you are all good at home! Miss you all and will be in touch again soon!

Lots of love, Clarexxxxxx

Central and Southern North Island

claremccallum — Wed, 2 Apr 2008 10:59:00 GMT

Hello Everyone!

Firstly, so sorry for not updating this blog for sooooo long! I've grown a little lazy about it over the past couple of months and so now have loads to report! Here is a summarised version of what we've all been up to since my last entry:

17th - 24th February: TAUPO

After our tour of the Northland, we travelled south to Taupo in the centre of the North Island. The town is located on the edge of New Zealand's largest lake (Lake Taupo!) which was created in a massive volcanic eruption over 25,000 years ago. We really liked the town and the surrounding area, so ended up staying there for a good week.

During our stay, Anna spontaneously booked herself onto a sky-dive! She was so brave! I didn't have the bottle to go with her! She did a tandem dive from 12,000 feet above sea level! Crazy Girl!

Meanwhile, me and Tom opted for a more leisurely venture on a beautiful sailing boat called 'The Barbary', which travelled across the lake to some fascinating Maori rock carvings that are only accessible by boat. They were very impressive, the best being a giant face sculpted into the rock. The water surrounding them was absolutely crystal clear, and the boat pulled in to allow for a swim stop!

Taupo is also a hotspot for fly-fishing, and so Tom, Pip and I had a good few trips down to the river with the rods! Sadly, we failed to catch anything, but practice makes perfect and to be honest it was just nice to spend time out in the stunning scenery. Saying that however, we did not go home entirely empty handed. One evening we met a really friendly couple of guys who let Pip land a trout they had hooked, and then gave it to us to take home! It was really kind of them...two top blokes!

When not out fishing, our evenings in Taupo were often spent visiting Irish Bars with the instruments, where we usually found ourselves recieving free beer for our music! It is a good way of having a cheap night out! In one of the bars I came across a tray above the doorway which read 'McCallum's Perfection Scots Whisky'. Really wanted to sneak it into my handbag as it would have looked perfect in Dad's conservatory or Pol's music room!

26th February: The Tongariro Alpine Crossing

After leaving Taupo, we travelled to the other side of the lake to a beautiful little village up in the mountains called Whakapapa. During our stay here, we did the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, a walk that is described as the most spectacular one-day trek in New Zealand, and from what I've come across so far, I can certainly vouch for such a description.

As the walk is so popular, we decided to set off really early in the morning to avoid the crowds and the hot sun. The route leads up a steep incline to the saddle that links two active volcanoes - Mount Tongariro and Mount Ngauruhoe. The landscape is absolutely breathtaking. You can see the remains of old lava flows which have patterned the rocks giving them an almost lunar appearence. At the highest point(1886m), you look right into the depths of Red Crater on Mount Tongariro, before passing a series of steaming vents that lead you to the beautiful Emerald Green lakes. The entire walk was fantastic. I tried to take lots of photographs (which mum now has at home should any of you fancy a peak) but not sure they can quite do it justice. A must-do for anyone visiting the country!

5th - 27th March: MARTINBOROUGH

From Whakapapa, we travelled South again down the East Coast, stopping at Napier and Hastings until we finally arrived in Martinborough. After spending only a few days in the town, we all grew to love it and decided it would be an ideal place to stay and work for a while. The town is situated in the Waiarapa region which is famous for its vineyards, and so finding work was pretty easy. With just a few phonecalls we all had a job working on the Te Kairanga Vineyard, where we spent our days in the sunshine pruning grape vines. The other staff were all really nice to get on with, and on our last day they even had a big barbeque to mark our send off. The work itself was a little monotonous, but we were all together and so could have a good chat to keep ourselves entertained. Had a bit of a mishap one morning when travelling on the quad bike to the vines! Pip and Tom were upfront on the bike, and me and Anna were sitting in a trailer behind. Suddenly though, there was a bit of a jolt and before we knew it, mine and Anna's trailer was overtaking Tom and Pip on the quad bike! We clearly hadn't been attatched properly and ended up zooming off into a nearby grapevine! Not a pleasant experience, but quite funny to look back on!

In the evenings, spent much of out time in the Martinborough hotel! We got to know the manager, Johnny, pretty well and he very kindly allowed us to stay in his cottage for a couple of weeks. Him and his wife, Sam, have spent a lot of time up in Scotland on the Isle of Harris, and so would be nice to return the favour should they ever make it back to the U.K.

We finished our work last friday and have now left Martinborough. Spent the weekend with Michael and Iona (Tom's distant relatives) in Wellington, before catching the ferry down to the South Island on Monday. We are now staying close to Picton as Micheal and Iona have very kindly let us stay in their holiday home for the week. It's lovely to have all the luxuries of a house again! We have an en-suite bathroom, and even a jacuzzi bath, not to mention beautiful panoramic views across the harbour!

Well, I think that is pretty much me up-to-date! Will try my best not to get soo beind with my blog again! Hope everything is good back home, and tell nana that I hope her leg is on the mend! Will be in touch soon,

Lots of love, Clarexxxxxxx

Gallery: 3

claremccallum — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 14:23:00 GMT

Northland and the bay of Islands

The Bay of Islands and the Far North

claremccallum — Thu, 7 Feb 2008 14:44:00 GMT

Hi again...another update! Our stay in the bay of Islands was really nice, although we did not visit everything as we plan to head back there in a few days to stay with Tom's old history teacher for a little while. During our few days there, we stayed in Paihia, which is a really lively little town, however it is clearly a tourist hotspot. There are endless rows of tour companies out to take your money, so you have to be very selective and not get carried away! Our stay was a fairly relaxed one! Rather than hopping on the jet boats and ferries, or being hoisted several hundred feet in the air by a parasail, we spent the majority of our visit exploring the towns and strolling along the beautiful beaches. The boys bought snorkels which were good fun. I had a little try and really emjoyed it...it wasn't the best location for spotting fish, but was perfect for getting used to using the equipment. It was quite cool to be able to breath under the water!

From the Bay of Islands, travelled North again right to the tip of New Zealand, where we stayed on another DOC campsite. The coastline here was a real contrast to that of the Bay of Islands - much more exposed and rugged, and far few fewer people! The nearest shop was a good 20 miles away I'd say, so again we were pretty isolated! Our tents were pitched in a beautiful loocation, could unzip the door and look out onto the sea...which was pretty impressive in itself...lots of big crashing waves and jagged rocks! During our stay here, we did a two hour walk along the coastline to Cape Reinga - the northern most accessible point in New Zealand. About half an hour into the walk however, I had blister problems and ended up doing the rest of it in my socks! But I made it nevertheless! Cape Reinga is lovely and fortunately we got there early enough to escape the coach loads of tourists that flock there everyday! There is a lovely little windswept lighthouse, and you can see the spot where the Pacific ocean meets the Tasman sea, generating some impressive wave collisions! There is also a signpost that points to London - 9735 miles away! Reminded me just how far away from home we really are! All in all, a really nice place to stay...only downside was the mosquitos, which have certainly had a feast on me these past couple of days!

We have now travelled South down the west coast and are staying on a campsite in a town called Ahipara. There are some pretty impressive sand dunes nearby which apparently you can toboggan down, so that may feature in the next couple of days. After that, we plan to make our way back to the Bay of Islands where we will be staying in Kerikeri for a bit.

Miss you all...Clarexxxx

Whangarei - Whananaka

claremccallum — Fri, 1 Feb 2008 13:02:00 GMT

From Waipu, we continued our journey North to quite a large town called Whangarei. After two weeks under canvas, we spent a much needed evening in a hostel, taking full advantage of the hot showers, comfy beds and cooking facilities! Our stay in the town was short, however we still managed to fit in a nice walk to a Kauri Park ( the Kauri is an ancient New Zealand tree that grows to a collosal size), as well as exploring the bustling shops and cafes.

The following day, Pip left the group for a couple of days to visit a friend in a nearby town, whilst the remaining four of us went North again to a tiny little place called Whananaka, where we camped in the grounds of primary school. Our tent was just a couple of yards off the beach, and looked out onto the longest footbrige in the southern hemisphere! COOL! During our two day stay, we followed a nice coastal path which lead to a memorial site commemorating a group of lifeboat men who had perished at sea after their boat had capsized. The route was very picturesque, and we passed lots of completely isolated white sandy beaches. There are so many beaches over here you can pretty much have one all to yourself...it's great!

This morning we have left Whananaka, and have now reached a place called Paihia which is right in the heart of the Bay of Islands. Have only just arrived so not had too much time to explore yet, however on first glances it looks beautiful! Will write more soon when I've had chance to properly look around!

Missing you all and wish you were here! xxx

Raglan - Auckland - Waipu

claremccallum — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 12:54:00 GMT

From Rotorua, we travelled North to a small town right on the East Coast called Raglan. The town is notorious for it's many surfing beaches, and is overlooked by Mount Karioi, which we managed to climb. The Mountain is 800m high, so similar to those back home, although the going was very steep in places...at certain points you had to pull yourself up over the rocks with a chain! As we had a really clear day, the views from the top were absolutely breathtaking, you could see for miles along the coast. You would have loved it Dad!

Our second day in Raglan was spent body boarding at a nearby beach. The surf was fantasic, and catching a wave was sooo much fun! We must have spent a good few hours in the water! Also, me and Anna had our first taste of New Zealand fish and chips...rather than the usual cod, we had gurner (I think!), which was delicious, although Whitby still wins on the portion sizes!

From Raglan, we went back to Auckland and spent an evening at the folk festival as the boys were booked to play. The festival was similar to Sidmouth, but rather than being spread around a town, everything was confined to a showground on the outskirts of the city. The major letdown was that there didn't appear to be a bar anywhere, so we had to pay a visit to the local off license to pick up supplies! The boys played in the evening on the main stage and sounded great. Went down really well with audience.

Now, we have left Auckland, and continuing on our journey North, have reached a small town called Waipu, where we are pitched on a DOC (Department of Conservation) Campsite right next to a beautiful white sandy beach. This morning, we visited Waipu caves, which were fantastic. You basically take a torch and a good pair of boots and explore the cave yourself...there are no guides like you would expect back home. Inside, we all turned off our torches and the whole cavity was completely covered with glow worms. It was a phenomenal sight...there must have been millions of them. All in all, a spectacular trip out, and didn't cost a single penny!

Right, best head off now as Pip is waiting for the computer...as always will keep you posted on things to come!

Clarexxx

Wet, wet, wet!

claremccallum — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 15:59:00 GMT

Our time in Rotorua has been a mixture of both good and bad! First...the bad! It has rained endlessly since we arrived here, and unfortunately, due to the rock hard, uneven nature of our tent pitch, Tom and I awoke this morning to find our tent sitting in an inch deep dub of water, which had slightly saturated the ground sheet making everything a little damp! Fortunately however, we have managed to get another pitch, which is a little more level, so our tent is now drying out nicely! Same thing must have happened to Pip, as we awoke to find him sleeping in the boot of the car having been pretty much flooded out! Also, last night, tom left his mandolin in the porch of the tent for about an hour, and came back to find the water had soaked through the leather case and has pretty much runied the instrument. The body has all cracked and collapsed which is a real shame. Still it could have been much worse if he had brought his shippy mandolin from home.

Anyway, now for the good! Yesterday visited the Polynesian Spa and spent a good few hours in their lakeside retreat! Was really nice! They had four different thermal pools right next to Lake Rotorua, which ranged from 36 degrees to 42 degrees. You would have loved it mum! Also, the changing rooms provided a few luxuries...big fluffy towels and hair dryers, which of course me and Anna took full advantage of!

This morning, we visited a place called Hell's Gate, which is basically a big geothermal park. As you walk around, you can view steaming lakes and waterfalls that reach temperatures of over 100 degrees, pools of bubbling mud, sulphur lakes and even a mud volcano. Was fascinating, although the sulphur smell was pretty strong!

Tomorrow, we plan to leave Rotorua and begin our journey towards the top of the North Island. Brenda (our car) has been running smoothly thus far, so we are very pleased with her! Only had one mishap where we had the boot open for too long and the lights caused the battery to run flat! Thankfully we met a nice man with a jump lead who revived her, and have since disconnected the boot and door lights!

Will keep you posted on how it's all going, hope all is well back home. Wish you could all be here! xxxx

Fletcher Bay

claremccallum — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 17:18:00 GMT

After an absolutely fantastic fun-filled week at Colin and Greta's, we sadly had to say goodbye! Had lovely meal with them though on our last evening there. Went to a resteraunt called the 'eggsentric' and ended up playing music and even dancing a little with Anna and the resteraunt owner! Was a tip top evening to end our stay!

From there, we travelled North up the Coromandel Peninsula to a beautiful little place called Fletcher Bay. The only access is along a very windy gravelled road that runs a little to close to the cliff side...but we made it there safely thanks to James's careful driving! The bay was very basic and completely isolated...had only a long drop toilet and a cold shower, but the location was stunning. Our tents were pitched less than 50 yards from the beach...ideal for morning swimming, and on all other sides we were surrounded by steep hills.

On our first evening there, we ended up drinking an entire bottle of rum on the beach! Feeling the effects of the alcohol, the boys (mainly Tom intially) thought it would be fun to go skinny dipping in the sea! Before long, they had whipped of there clothes and were in, removing there boxers after they were submerged in the water! Unfortunately for James however, and unexpected wave washed his boxers clean out of his hand, leaving him stranded...butt naked in the sea! Me and Anna were in absolute histerics! I had to run back and get him a new pair, and in order to actually get them to him, Pip had to crawl (again butt naked) into the shallow waters to collect them! I don't think I've ever laughed so much in my entire life!

The following day we walked along a stunning coastal path to a place called stoney bay on the opposite side of the peninsula. The walk was tough going at first, due to the heat, but as we continued, we found that much of the path went through bushland which provided a little more shade. Again, the views of the coast were breathtaking. Will try and get the pics on here soon.

Now we have left Fletcher Bay and have travelled south to a town called Rotorua. Have only just arrived so haven't had much chance to explore the place yet, but it basically stands in an area of high thermal activity...so there are thermal spas and pools all over the place. Only downside is it smells of rotten eggs due to all the sulphur that's release! Tom is taking full advantage of being able to break wind and blame it on the sulphur emissions!

Well, best leave it at that, hope all is well back home, and I'll keep you updated when I can.

Miss you allxxx

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claremccallum — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 08:47:00 GMT

The active life!

claremccallum — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 08:20:00 GMT

Hello again! Just another update to keep you posted on what's been going on. From Auckland, we caught a ferry to the Coromandel Peninsula, which lies to the East of the city. The journey was lovely, we passed lots of small islands, many of which were privately owned and looked absolutely idyllic. On our arrival at the peninsula, we were then picked up by a small, locally run shuttle bus which took us into Coromandel town. The buses are very different to those in England. In the smaller towns, the driver will pretty much pick you up and drop you off wherever you want to go. It's a much more friendly system.

Coromandel town was a really charming little place, although not at all what I expected. It felt like we'd travelled back in time when we arrived. Pip said he felt like a group of cowboys were about to appear from some saloon bar! The scenery surrounding the town was spectacular, lots of steep hills that are covered in forestry. During our two day stay, we visited the Driving Creek railway line. The entire track was built by just one man over a period of 20 years, and was used traditionally as a means of transporting firewood to his pottery in the town. Now it is a prime tourist attraction. The train takes you upwards through the forest, to a spectacular viewing area towards the top of the hill. From here, the views across the coastline are fantastic.

From coromandel town, we caught another bus down to Whitianga, where we are currently staying with Colin and Greta. Since arriving here, we have never stopped! It's just been one activity after another! We've had two full days fishing (one more successful than the other), we've been swimming and sailing, and have even had a go at some pretty cool watersports! Plus, we've visited both cathedral cove and hot water beach, which were both very impressive. Hot water beach was amazing...you dig a big hole in the sand at low tide, and the water under the surface is really hot (scorching hot in places). Feels like you are lying in a bath! Everyone has been so lovely to us here, and its been fantastic to have a go at so many different activities!

Today, the boys have gone up to Auckland to try and buy us a vehicle, so me and Anna are having a bit of a rest day! Weather still fantastic...we've been very lucky! Will keep you posted on whats to come, and hope you enjoy looking at the pics I've added!xxx

Update: Just been for a walk with Anna and Colin along Cook's beach. It was really nice, as the sun had started to cool off! Had a paddle and saw the very spot where Captain Cook landed the Endeavour several centuries ago! It was difficult to comprehend that the very same ship would have sailed all the way from Whitby Harbour.

Just finishing the evening off now with a cup of tea and a piece of Greta's delicious homemade shortbread! Heard that the boys have bought us a vehicle, so that's good news! Don't know what kind it is though yet, so will have to wait till tomorrow to find out! Night Night (or perhaps I should say good morning!).xxx

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claremccallum — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 08:03:00 GMT

Arrival in Auckland

claremccallum — Tue, 8 Jan 2008 10:25:00 GMT

Hey guys! This is the first time I've had chance to write on this blog, so sorry to those of you who have been checking only to find a completely empty space! We have made it here safely. The journey went well, all except one small mishap which involved Tom vomiting uncontrollably just four hours into our first flight! Still, the airhostesses were very kind about the whole situation, and had us cleaned up in no time. Fortunately he is feeling on top form again now! Really enjoyed the flight, had a window seat which was very exciting. During the night saw some lovely views of Russia all lit up, and then saw the sun come up over a very snowy and mountainous Mongolia which was stunning!

Since arriving in Auckland we have been staying in a Youth Hostel pretty much slap bang in the city centre. It's a perfect location and has all the facilities we need. The first few days have been a little quiet as we are all still getting over the long journey. Nevertheless, we have still managed to see plenty of sights. Visited the museum on Sunday, which was well worth the trip. Could have spent hours looking round (although the section on there being a risk of a volcanic eruption any time was a little unnerving!). Also, have been to the Art Gallery and various parks around the city. However, overall, the most exciting excursion thus far was the trip up the sky tower! The viewing platform at the top is 220m high, and so offered some breathtaking sights of Auckland (I've taken quite a lot of pictures so will try and post them on here at some point). Also, as an added extra there was a bar at the top, so Anna and I decided it was the perfect location to try our first glass of New Zealand wine! Very nice indeed!

Today, James is due to arrive. He's due to touch down at around 12:30, so it will be nice to finally have all five of us together. This will be our last day in Auckland, as tomorrow we plan to head out to the Coromandel Peninsula, where we will be paying Collin and Greta a visit. Will keep you posted on things to come! Miss you all!