So the day before yesterday i went bungee jumping for the first time. Awesome!


Yesterday i hiked the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, advertised as NZ's best day hike. And to be fair, it's hard to imagine a better day hike.

19km sounds easy enough, but that doesn't include the optional climb to the summit of the volcano used as Mt Doom in the Lord Of the Rings movies. I forget the real name. Anyway, that constitutes a gruelling two hour climb (literally a climb) up a 45 degree slope of scree, sand, and jagged volcanic rocks. But once at the top it was all worth it.

Spectacular does not do it justice.

so i just arrived in Taupo.

After Whangerai i hired a car and drove up to the most northerly point in NZ, Cape Reinga, where Maori souls depart after death on the journey to wherever.
I picked up a german hitchhiker called Max and we climbed up a big hill with 360 views, it was a fun day.
Next day i was struck down with travellers stomach and had to spend a couple of days in the hostel within easy access of a bathroom.

Then i took a scenic 12 hour train journey down to the bottom of the north island, to Wellington.

Whilst NZ prides itself on being a country of nature etc its a shame that over the last 150 years since it became populated, 80% of its natural forests and habitats have been destroyed.
A lot of it is now just barren looking hillside with sheep dotted about.

I spent the last week hanging out in Wellington with students, seeing bands, climbing small hills and turning up late to environmental protests. (no arrests this time)

In my last week i plan to go bungee jumping, sit in some warm mud, walk the Tongariro crossing, (reputed to be one of the best day hikes in the world) and go "black water" rafting in the Waitomo caves.

Then onto Fiji.

over and out