Hello  all,

Last Tuesday i hit the road as i thought it is my last bit of time in New Zealand then i am going to see some of the north island. I caught the bus to Rotorua located south east of Hamilton about four hours drive from Auckland. A thermal area known for bubbling mud and nasty smells of sulphur. The smell varies. Most of the time it is okay but sometimes it does get too much. Rotorua is also a tourist town and almost everything comes at a price at which you will pay through the nose for. I discovered the free sites such as Rotarua park that has (fenced off for protection) bubbling mud pools, steam vents and geysers. I also saw the quaint lake front that Rotarua is situated beside. I Visited the Polynesian Spa which was amazing. Eight pools ranging in temperatures form 38C to the mid 40'sC. I went in the evening and it was a relaxing experience despite the bus load of loud Chinese tourists. I got to know fellow back packers as i always do on the road and had some nice times too with them out for drinks etc...

On Friday i left Rotarua for Napier. I decided to Hitch hike. I was picked up by a Born again Christian. We had a nice chat actually but i find it funny that its not the first time i have been picked up by one in NZ. I found The Stables hostel to have a dorm room and decided to stay of a few nights. Napier is a nice place with weather similar to Worthing (south coast UK for readers abroad) and located on the edge of Hawks bay. Its town centre has retro buildings and is close to many of the Hawks bay Vineyards and Wineries.

On Saturday i hired a rather shoddy bike from another hostel in Napier. I wanted to visit about ten Wineries but i only managed three as i did not realise how far apart some of them were. I made sure all the ones i bothered to cycle to had free tastings. I wrote some tasting notes as i figured it may help to have some background information on different wines when i go to study Vineyard management. I visited Church road, Mission Estate and Cross roads Wineries. I saw Corbans and a Montana vineyard on route too. It was a nice ride but bad weather set in and there was an icy chill. I cycled about 40 to 45 Miles?

Yesterday i got up later than i had planned as i was going to hitch hike back up to Auckland. I thought that leaving at 11.30 was leaving it a little late to reach Auckland by night fall. However i made it! A man called Lance drove me to Taupo with his Nz's best dog show Poodle in his Motor home. From Taupo a man called Don and his son Nathan on there way back from a fishing trip drove me to Cambridge (they steel the names over here but that's okay they can have that one) then a Samoan Fed-ex courier picked me up and drove me to Mt Eden, Auckland. I arrived at 6.30pm.

Leaving for Hong Kong tomorrow night.

Cheers,

Felix