Two weeks down

Some more to go... Finally, a blog entry! Blinking writer's block. Or is it the seemingly extortionate price of internet cafes here..? Bah humbug.
Anyway, my excuse is that we've made a slow start. I must be a complete jetlag lightweight. How do people do a two-week holiday here? It took us three days to get more than 100 yards down the road in Auckland.

When we did finally leave Auckland, we were so excited we decided to draw a map of the country in the sand...




Last weekend we took our hostess's car up to the Bay of Islands, where we kayaked, cycled and oh yes, swam with dolphins. Except that I don't suppose they would have described it in the same way. We swam towards them as fast as we could - they sauntered away, whistling casually. Eventually they came back towards us, had a quick look, and scarpered again. Still, we tried.

We also stopped at some amazing, isolated beaches. This one's called Baylis beach and it's on the wild West Coast of the North Island - where most of the country's good surf is.




Now we're doing a 2-week loop of the centre of the North Island, still in the borrowed car - thanks Hayley! I was going to skydive over Lake Taupo, but the weather wasn't up for it. Honest. Might save that one for Australia. So instead we swam in some hot springs on a nearby river - perfect for backpackers, as it's the nearest we'll come for some time to a hot bath.

Nothing so far had really hit my spot though - until yesterday, when we walked over an active volcano for 11 miles or so.
Maybe I just needed some hardship in my life. My hired hiking shoes certainly provided that, within an hour of the start.



Extra adversity was added by cloud


And wind


But the views, when the sun poked through the swirling clouds, made up for it all.

South Crater


Red Crater (and cold Englishman)


Emerald Lakes (and now sheltered Englishman)