On tour in NZ with Stray

Day One - Ha Hei / Hot Water Beach
Somehow - my mistake - I didn't realise the bus would actually pick up at Ponsonby Backpackers, which is right around the corner from my house, and so could have slept 30 mins longer and saved myself a cab ride to town.

Got myself a seat next to a lovely girl from Munich in German and learnt how to count to ten. Made it to Ha Hei and Hot Water beach, such a beautiful place.

Day Two - Raglan
Im writing this at the end of day two of the stray tour. Were in Raglan at Karioi lodge. It's the meck shit - a real backpacker hostel in the jungle, with a really hot sauna and big lounge. Dope as aged rims tree sits smack in front of me over the deck, and the hostel is cool . The lodges are situated nestled into a valley in from the road on the south head.

Apart from a few teething problems early on involving changes to the schedule and wales breaking in the bus in Thames in true form (who needs a rear window anyhow? nice fresh air!), the tour is exceptionally cool still. Great bunch of people, heaps of Germans, plus a regular mix of French, English, Irish, Dutch, Italian, Brazilian and me.... the sole kiwi in group. In fact im a staff members trying to masquerade as a true backpacker.
Surfing turned out to be a highlight so far - that and nearly burning my feat at hot water beach briefly on our trip at Ha The on the first night. We hired some boards from raglan surf school at the beach at ### (where the raglan reggae festival was) and shit was pretty mellow. I can see why pros would go further out at the other beach.

Taupo friday night
Had a big night on friday in taupo. Good times and crazy dancing with Jordon, Nick, Anders, Avril, Veronica, and... gets hard to remember all the names.

Blue Duck
Pariatua loop walk: Awesome old growth trees with long lichen hanging off and inquisitive tiny smaller than normal fantail-looking birds come to say, while pairs of tuis pull aerobatic manoeuvres. Steep terrain. Lords of the rings type shit, made me feel like the hobbit.

National Park
Did the tongariro crossing! 19.4kms, 800m up, and 1100m down. Very cool 7 hour walk! Amazing endorphin rushes after the walk. Spa after was fun, that's when I taught the Germans what a sausage fest was (worst fest in German).