Little bit of a wait for the bus on the 16th, so end up Skyping Nora. At near midday, a bus pulls up, but it's not ours - it's Wales, heading to Whakahoro. However, on board are Kaya and Lucija, Leoniek and Marlou, the Swiss, and Aoife. There's time for a ten minute chat, they're all doing well. There's another bus, driven by Nat, which is staying here overnight - she has 31 people doing the crossing.
When our bus finally pulls in, driven by Salty, we've got a surprise - Joachim and Svenia are aboard! It's fantastic to see them - they're heading back to Auckland too. We all climb aboard, sitting down the back, and head for Taupo. We pass a cycle event along the way - doesn't appear to be a serious race, but it's well marshalled.
I've booked into Rotorua Central, and Jen comes with me. Neil is at reception, and shows us our room. We pick our beds, and when we leave the room to get our bags, Neil has already brought them up for us, Such service! The hostel itself is very homely, and the beds are lovely. It's obvious Neil and Catherine have created a welcoming home for travellers.
We wander down to a night market Neil told us about, stopping in a bookshop on the way. Grab some noodles for dinners, and sit listening to a guy singing, with guitar. Really pleasant. After a while we take a walk around a small park with geothermal mud pools, bumping into Mariella and Luca there. It's not that exciting, just some muddy pools, with a few bubbles. Back to the market for ice cream dessert, and then listen to the singer again. Joachim comes down too, but Svenia is not well. As the singer closes his set, we (the crowd) cajole him into doing an encore, and he obliges with another three songs.
We adjourn to the Irish pub nearby, where the Guinness is alright, but ready far too quickly. The music is a bit anaemic though, no Irish stuff at all. Until the singer finishes, and U2 kicks in. bleargh. End up talking to an English guy who's spent time in the army - he speaks German, Dutch and Norwegian, and is soon laying on the jokes thick and fast, rounding off each punchline with a forceful laugh.
Jen and I stay for two pints and a whiskey. It tastes like home. At the hostel, we're the only two in our room, and play some Ramino with a couple of glasses of vodka before sleep.
On the 17th, Salty picks us up to bring us to Auckland. Our route takes us via Hamilton and the airport, and then central drop-offs. Say my goodbyes to Mariella and Luca, Joachim and Svenia, and Jen. Salty drops me in Ponsonby, along with a Perth girl who's heading to Waiheke for a hen night. I walk to my hostel, but nobody answers the door. Another guest lets me in, and I find a staff member who checks me in, though my credit card doesn't work. Dump my bad anyway and grab a bus to meet Rachel.
Find her eventually, greeting her with a hug, as Dean is there also. Dean, who rafted with me in Rangitata, and left Wellington after the Super Sevens, came back to Auckland on Rachel's bus. We mosey along the water front, ending up playing frisbee in Victoria Park. Get a call from Seb, who's in Christchurch now. Head back to Rachel's for dinner, slapping together a salad. Pass the evening playing Ramino with German Mika and French Jessie. Lots of Monty Python jokes.
Home to email Seb and Nicci, then to bed, where I politely ask the couple sharing the bed next to me to shush. Get woken by two Germans coming in, which means half the couple shouldn't even be in the room. Le sigh.
Germans wake me again on the 18th, as they leave in the morning. I sit in Western Park for a bit, waiting for Rachel to be ready. Have to go buy credit - two days left in NZ, and minimum top-up is $20, grrr! Meet Rach, and we grab a bus to Newmarket, where Andy picks us up in his car. He's looking well, with a job lined up at least. He takes us out to the beach at Mission Bay. The day is clear and sunny, and there's a great view of the islands in the bay, as well as the numerous ships of the City of Sails. We eat at a Belgian joint, De Fontaine, which serves up some delicious mussels and calamari, though it's a bit pricey. Only 1.5 days left though!
Drop by the shops to get some meat and Monteith's Summer Ale, then on to the flat warming barbecue. Chat for a while with Justin, but Rachel is very quiet. She talks to a few of the girls for a bit, but I'm not surprised when she announces that she's leaving to meet another friend.
Head into town with Andy, wearing someone else's shoes that are too big for me, packed with tissue and wrapping paper. First port of call is the Northern Steamship, where I meet some of Andy's other friends. Andy and Bria (whose leaving party it is), Tessa and Laila. Andy disappears then, gone to another party, and I spend the evening with his friends instead.
Other Andy is kicked out of the next place, and then Danny Doolin's is jammed. BK Lounge for a midnight snack, where other Andy nearly gets in a fight. Laila's pissed off with him for upsetting Bria. We all pile into a taxi back to Meadowbank.
Laila gives me a lovely lift to pick up my gear from Parnell, and then all the way to Ponsonby, which makes life all the simpler for me. Quick shower, then off to get the bus into town. The 19th, my last full day in New Zealand!
Meet Rachel, Dean and Jen at the ferry, and we cross to Devonport. There's a food, wine and music festival on, but it turns out to be $30 to enter. We eat at a café down the road instead, the others share a bottle of white wine, but I'm still on a high, and quite giddy, so decline. Chowder is quite nice, very filling. Stop off for ice cream, and find a grassy spot to chill out, within earshot of the Blues Brothers.
Dean and Jen go and grab some goon, but a guard drives us to move on to a different spot. Underneath some shady trees, by the sea, we play cards and drink wine. It's perfect really, then Rachel announces onces again she's leaving. I'm content to play Ramino with Dean and Jen.
I get a surprise when Esther walks by, and jump up to hug her. She is accompanied by a friend, Swedish Maria. I turn to indicate that Jen is also Swedish, and am shocked to see her throwing up! Anti-biotics and goon, a bad combination. Escort her back to the ferry, with a spectacular sunset. Drop her off at her hostel, with strict orders to go to bed.
Myself and Dean check out Fr Ted's, but it's baking inside. QF Tavern is a grand alternative, where we're both IDed. Dean is particularly pleased by this.
We sit and shoot the breeze awhile, and introduce Rachel to 'Fuck the Dealer' when she arrives. Esther drops by too, but we wrap up pretty soon after. I walk Rachel home, and Dean accompanies us all the way, beyond his own hostel. Rachel bids us both goodnight with a hug, and the same farewell.
Morning of the 20th, day of the return. Well, the beginning of the return. It's going to take about 40 hours from Auckland to Dublin. Start packing up, passing my non-perishable food onto a girl in the dorm, ditching the rest. I get an Internet voucher from a staff member, and mention that I still haven't paid. He tells me the manager will be around at 9.30. Sure enough, there's a knock on my door, and a woman introduces herself as Selina. She's exceedingly polite, and apologetic that we haven't met before now, denying her the chance to give me any advice on Auckland.
I laugh and explain that I'm always out doing things anyway, so not to worry. Pay with my credit card. She offers to book the airport shuttle for me, because another girl is flying about the same time. I tell her that I'm meeting a friend in town, but thanks. Grab the bus to the Britomart.
Find a coffee shop, latte and muffin for lunch. Jen comes to join me. She's well recovered from yesterday, but still embarrassed. She's planning to find work on a farm - WOFing, as it's known - preferably up north in the Bay of Islands. I sort out some postcards, then get the bus to the airport.
When our bus finally pulls in, driven by Salty, we've got a surprise - Joachim and Svenia are aboard! It's fantastic to see them - they're heading back to Auckland too. We all climb aboard, sitting down the back, and head for Taupo. We pass a cycle event along the way - doesn't appear to be a serious race, but it's well marshalled.
I've booked into Rotorua Central, and Jen comes with me. Neil is at reception, and shows us our room. We pick our beds, and when we leave the room to get our bags, Neil has already brought them up for us, Such service! The hostel itself is very homely, and the beds are lovely. It's obvious Neil and Catherine have created a welcoming home for travellers.
We wander down to a night market Neil told us about, stopping in a bookshop on the way. Grab some noodles for dinners, and sit listening to a guy singing, with guitar. Really pleasant. After a while we take a walk around a small park with geothermal mud pools, bumping into Mariella and Luca there. It's not that exciting, just some muddy pools, with a few bubbles. Back to the market for ice cream dessert, and then listen to the singer again. Joachim comes down too, but Svenia is not well. As the singer closes his set, we (the crowd) cajole him into doing an encore, and he obliges with another three songs.
We adjourn to the Irish pub nearby, where the Guinness is alright, but ready far too quickly. The music is a bit anaemic though, no Irish stuff at all. Until the singer finishes, and U2 kicks in. bleargh. End up talking to an English guy who's spent time in the army - he speaks German, Dutch and Norwegian, and is soon laying on the jokes thick and fast, rounding off each punchline with a forceful laugh.
Jen and I stay for two pints and a whiskey. It tastes like home. At the hostel, we're the only two in our room, and play some Ramino with a couple of glasses of vodka before sleep.
***
On the 17th, Salty picks us up to bring us to Auckland. Our route takes us via Hamilton and the airport, and then central drop-offs. Say my goodbyes to Mariella and Luca, Joachim and Svenia, and Jen. Salty drops me in Ponsonby, along with a Perth girl who's heading to Waiheke for a hen night. I walk to my hostel, but nobody answers the door. Another guest lets me in, and I find a staff member who checks me in, though my credit card doesn't work. Dump my bad anyway and grab a bus to meet Rachel.
Find her eventually, greeting her with a hug, as Dean is there also. Dean, who rafted with me in Rangitata, and left Wellington after the Super Sevens, came back to Auckland on Rachel's bus. We mosey along the water front, ending up playing frisbee in Victoria Park. Get a call from Seb, who's in Christchurch now. Head back to Rachel's for dinner, slapping together a salad. Pass the evening playing Ramino with German Mika and French Jessie. Lots of Monty Python jokes.
Home to email Seb and Nicci, then to bed, where I politely ask the couple sharing the bed next to me to shush. Get woken by two Germans coming in, which means half the couple shouldn't even be in the room. Le sigh.
***
Germans wake me again on the 18th, as they leave in the morning. I sit in Western Park for a bit, waiting for Rachel to be ready. Have to go buy credit - two days left in NZ, and minimum top-up is $20, grrr! Meet Rach, and we grab a bus to Newmarket, where Andy picks us up in his car. He's looking well, with a job lined up at least. He takes us out to the beach at Mission Bay. The day is clear and sunny, and there's a great view of the islands in the bay, as well as the numerous ships of the City of Sails. We eat at a Belgian joint, De Fontaine, which serves up some delicious mussels and calamari, though it's a bit pricey. Only 1.5 days left though!
Drop by the shops to get some meat and Monteith's Summer Ale, then on to the flat warming barbecue. Chat for a while with Justin, but Rachel is very quiet. She talks to a few of the girls for a bit, but I'm not surprised when she announces that she's leaving to meet another friend.
Head into town with Andy, wearing someone else's shoes that are too big for me, packed with tissue and wrapping paper. First port of call is the Northern Steamship, where I meet some of Andy's other friends. Andy and Bria (whose leaving party it is), Tessa and Laila. Andy disappears then, gone to another party, and I spend the evening with his friends instead.
Other Andy is kicked out of the next place, and then Danny Doolin's is jammed. BK Lounge for a midnight snack, where other Andy nearly gets in a fight. Laila's pissed off with him for upsetting Bria. We all pile into a taxi back to Meadowbank.
***
Laila gives me a lovely lift to pick up my gear from Parnell, and then all the way to Ponsonby, which makes life all the simpler for me. Quick shower, then off to get the bus into town. The 19th, my last full day in New Zealand!
Meet Rachel, Dean and Jen at the ferry, and we cross to Devonport. There's a food, wine and music festival on, but it turns out to be $30 to enter. We eat at a café down the road instead, the others share a bottle of white wine, but I'm still on a high, and quite giddy, so decline. Chowder is quite nice, very filling. Stop off for ice cream, and find a grassy spot to chill out, within earshot of the Blues Brothers.
Dean and Jen go and grab some goon, but a guard drives us to move on to a different spot. Underneath some shady trees, by the sea, we play cards and drink wine. It's perfect really, then Rachel announces onces again she's leaving. I'm content to play Ramino with Dean and Jen.
I get a surprise when Esther walks by, and jump up to hug her. She is accompanied by a friend, Swedish Maria. I turn to indicate that Jen is also Swedish, and am shocked to see her throwing up! Anti-biotics and goon, a bad combination. Escort her back to the ferry, with a spectacular sunset. Drop her off at her hostel, with strict orders to go to bed.
Myself and Dean check out Fr Ted's, but it's baking inside. QF Tavern is a grand alternative, where we're both IDed. Dean is particularly pleased by this.
We sit and shoot the breeze awhile, and introduce Rachel to 'Fuck the Dealer' when she arrives. Esther drops by too, but we wrap up pretty soon after. I walk Rachel home, and Dean accompanies us all the way, beyond his own hostel. Rachel bids us both goodnight with a hug, and the same farewell.
***
Morning of the 20th, day of the return. Well, the beginning of the return. It's going to take about 40 hours from Auckland to Dublin. Start packing up, passing my non-perishable food onto a girl in the dorm, ditching the rest. I get an Internet voucher from a staff member, and mention that I still haven't paid. He tells me the manager will be around at 9.30. Sure enough, there's a knock on my door, and a woman introduces herself as Selina. She's exceedingly polite, and apologetic that we haven't met before now, denying her the chance to give me any advice on Auckland.
I laugh and explain that I'm always out doing things anyway, so not to worry. Pay with my credit card. She offers to book the airport shuttle for me, because another girl is flying about the same time. I tell her that I'm meeting a friend in town, but thanks. Grab the bus to the Britomart.
Find a coffee shop, latte and muffin for lunch. Jen comes to join me. She's well recovered from yesterday, but still embarrassed. She's planning to find work on a farm - WOFing, as it's known - preferably up north in the Bay of Islands. I sort out some postcards, then get the bus to the airport.
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