NEW ZEALAND North Island

AUCKLAND - WELLINGTON

On the road.

We picked up a van in Auckland, unfortunately it is

kitten-clad.

Driving through Auckland.

Extreme concentration as Sophie learns to drive on the left.

 

Our first night we parked up the van on the first beach we found.

We've been driving along the coast, enjoying the sun.

COROMANDEL- Hot Water Beach.

Dig a hole on the beach, and you'll find yourself bathing in water reaching up to 60C!

Fine fauna here in NZ.

Lunching.

The guys at Wicked Vans seem to have a way with words.

ROTORUA SMELLS LIKE ROTTEN EGGS.

But there were a lot of geisers

Dining.

TAUPO: Huka Falls

10 000 litres of water per second

Road kill.

Following the sun my arse...

Getting lost on a dirt track in desolate remains of bush fire..

TONGARIRO VOLCANO

(active)

Spongebob goes hiking.

TAUPO - NAPIER

Art Deco meets New Rave

After a heavy night...

Balanced diet.

WELLINGTON!

FIJI ISLANDS

We fly in after 24 hours flight with high hopes. From the air it looked like paradise.

                              But from the ground......FIJI = FAIL.

It appears we have arrived in the height of the rainy season.

Heavy wind, heavy rain = strong rum to cure the disappointment and jetlag. 

We escaped the mainland bound for Mana island and were greeted with postcard perfection.

                            BULA!

                                                           (hello,welcome,life)

We were welcomed with the 'Bula' song at the Mana Lagoon backpackers. We weren't expecting such a serene and secluded spot in such a touristic destination, but we found ourselves in a tiny local village on a tiny pacific island. No hassle, no schedule, no notion of the hour or the day - we're on Fiji Time.

Mitch - all round dancer/entertainer/Polynesian flame thrower.

Rosie et al picking fruit in the village. (The blue house on the right is our room)

Passing the rain with Xavier, our resident French gypsy/guru.

Hiking

Mana magic

Spongebob does Castaway - Fiji's claim to fame.

People play all day and swim fully clothed.

Our Mana family bids us farewell Fiji style with singing and dancing. 

ITINERARY

05-Jan-11 London , UK - Seoul, SOUTH KOREA
06-Jan-11 Seoul, SOUTH KOREA - Nadi, FIJI ISLANDS
14-Jan-11 Nadi, FIJI ISLANDS - Auckland, NEW ZEALAND

14-Feb-11 Christchurch, NEW ZEALAND - Melbourne, AUSTRALIA

15-Mar-11 Cairns, AUSTRALIA - SINGAPORE

14-Jun-11 Bangkok, THAILAND - Bombay, INDIA

14-Jul-11 Bombay, INDIA - London, UK

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