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- Sent items to Harcourt + booked ferry from Wellington to S. Island online
- Hit road toward Taupo + South - Shannon's wacky + weird today (?)
- Pulled off @ Huka Falls - awesome volume + color
- Walked (2 hrs return) up + down river to Spa Park - on way back soaked our legs + feet in trailside hot springs - NICE!!
- To Taupo for kebab dinner + visit to the Super Loo (40 cents - pretty super)
- Joke of the Day as we left Turangi - Dave: I need to make a left out of this town. Shannon (gullibly) Why? Dave: Because Turangis don't make a right. Shannon's subsequent hiccups lasted 45 minutes
- Free-camped along Hwy 1 next to Mt. Ruapehu - cold + windy - might get snow...
- Set out to do hike near Waoieka Gorge - bad DoC map - Shannon had splash-down in river, so instead,...
- Drove down into Waoieka Gorge, not impressive, so instead,...
- Headed straight to Rotorua!
- VOTED!! Go John Kerry and John Edwards!
- Booked condo exchange on S. Island starting Dave's b-day
- Saw Shark's Tale
- Camped @ Kiwi Paka (NZ$21)
- Drove to Gisborne - used Internet, stocked up, moved on
- Lots of yummy muffins, cakes + pastries "reduced to clear" @ Pak'n'Save :)
- Took short walk up headland @ Wainui Beach - beautiful views of ocean + gorgeous villa-type house on hill opposite
- Scenery is grand + rugged + spring green - lots of lambs - Mt Hikurangi huge
- Fajita dinner by Dave (mmm) @ free camping spot near Hihuharama
- Rain neverending - Harcourt work, lots of tea + toast
- Soaked + read books @ hot pools - 4 hrs :)
- Stayed in "army hut" @ Morere Tearooms - no mosquitoes - yay!
- Long day, but good hike - 7 hrs
- Stayed in Waiopaoa hut - small hut, friendly crowd
- Stayed warm by sleeping in rafter bunks
- Met up again w/ Israelis from Pahi Beach
- Picked up hitchhiker on way to Urewera Nat'l Park - sign said "road closed to Waikaremoana" - dropped hitcher off @ Whirinaki trailhead
- Drove 500km around the long way - Taupo, Napier, Wairoa - only to find out road isn't actually closed!
- Camped @ Waikaremoana Motor Camp - friendly staff - cold night!!
- Set off to find Hamilton Big Fresh - no such luck - it's now a Countdown
- Drove to Rotorua - booked huts for Waikaremoana Great Walk
- Lunch @ Fat Dog: pumpkin soup, Thai chicken, veggie fritters (NZ$20 all) - yum!!
- Checked into Kiwi Paka campsite (NZ$21)
- Coffee + tea @ Fat Dog again
- Went to see The Terminal at Rotorua cinema
- Onward south
- Visited Morris + James Pottery + Tileworks in Matakana - gorgeous works - beautiful patio cafe w/ ivy-covered alcoves
- Lunch @ M+J cafe: tasting platter (NZ$18.50) - beautiful
- Walk up to clifftop overlooking Goat Island Marine Reserve near Leigh - saw 2 whales!
- Camped @ Hamilton City Holiday Park (NZ$22) - everyone here looks crazy/angry - not a good vibe from Hamilton
- Headed south
- Short hike up to Rainbow Warrior memorial @ Matauri Bay - great spot
- Lunch: fish+chips @ Highway 10 Seafood, Keri Keri - voted best fish+chips 5 years running - yup, pretty good :)
- Cool public toilets @ Kawakawa
- S. African lady @ gallery lived on ranch in Pleasanton, TX
- Started to camp free @ Piroa Falls Walkway, off 1, south of Waipu
- Got creeped out @ Piroa Falls - bad spot - tight, curvy canyon road - camped again @ Ruakaka Motor Camp
- Rainy day
- Into Dargaville for breakfast @ Blah, Blah, Blah
- Stopped to see Tane Mahuta - giant kauri tree
- Camped @ Rawene Motor Camp
- Nice little kitchen - played games, recharged batteries, computer work
