Kia Ora from NZ!

A warm hello from NZ :D. This morning I arrived at Auckland and after having spending some time here, it seems that Auckland is much more influenced by American shops and culture than Australia. New Zealanders have such strong and interesting accent - for instance, when saying 6, they would say 'circuth' (as in circus but with th at the end). I'm now in my hotel feeling quite tired and headachy having only had 4hours of sleep in the last 24hours. I will have to pick up my sister from the airport tonight at 1am (her flight got delayed) in our awesomely small and crappy rental Hyundai Getz.

I hope to blog about our time in NZ everyday so as to remember the experiences but this may not happen. So I will give a schedule of what we shall be doing in the next 10 days. Of course this is all subject to changes especially given that it rains 1 out of 3 days in NZ!

27 Dec - Bianco Off Queen Apartment

Day 1 (Dec 28)
Auckland sightseeing
Drive from Auckland to Rotorua (around 3hours)
Relax (in prep for epic journey) at Rotorua Hot Springs 3pm (Hells Gate Thermal Reserve http://www.hellsgate.co.nz/)
28 Dec - Ventura Inn & Suites Rotorua

Day 2 (Dec 29)
Mountain biking with Planet Bikes at 10am (http://www.planetbike.co.nz)
Drive from Lake Rotorua to Lake Tarawera to Lake Aniwhenua (around 3hours drive)
29 Dec - Lake Aniwhenua Lodge

Day 3 (Dec 30)
See sunrise against Lake Waikaremoana (sunrise at 6am)
Hiking in Te Urewera Forest Park - Onepoto to Panekire Hut (around 10hours return)
Drive from Onepoto (Lake Waikaremoana) to Wairoa to Taupo (around 4hours drive)
30 Dec - Falls Chateau

Day 4 (Dec 31)
Hiking around Lake Taupo - Huka Falls Spa Park walk (around 2hours)
Relax around the lake
Drive from Taupo to Ohakune (around 1.5hours drive)
31 Dec - Manuka Lodge

Day 5 (Jan 1)
Tongariro National Park (Tongariro Alpine Crossing - best one-day hike in NZ http://www.tongarirocrossing.org.nz/index.php?Itemid=27&id=13&option=com_content&task=view)
1 Jan - Manuka Lodge

Day 6 (Jan 2)
Canoeing in Whanganui river at 8am (http://www.whanganui.co.nz/canoe_kayak_trips.php#freedom)
2 Jan - Manuka Lodge

Day 7 (Jan 3)
Drive from Ohakune to Taihape (around 1hour drive)
Horse riding with River Valley at 8.30am (http://www.rivervalley.co.nz)

Drive from River Valley to Wellington through Masterton (around 4 hours drive)
Time to immerse into society a bit, eg check out some bars
3 Jan - James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor

Day 8 (Jan 4)
Drive from Wellington to Egmont National Park (around 5hours drive)
4 Jan - Quality Hotel Plymouth International

Day 9 (Jan 5)
Hiking in Egmont National Park - Waingongoro Track (around 4-5hours)
Drive from Egmont National Park to Hamilton

5 Jan - Wesley Chambers Hotel

Day 10 (Jan 6)
Drive from Hamilton to Auckland Airport (around 4hours)