My trip to the Antipodes

Long day yesterday but managed to change motors at Auckland then drove down to National Park village. 11 hour trip checking in at 19:30. Checked out the first bar that I could find. Fine, refreshing pint, then retired early ready for today.

Breakfast at 07:30, bus left at 08:00. Checking around at the other 10/11 passengers I reckon that I gave the next oldest there at least 30 years! Good bunch and I would meet up with them on and off throughout the day.

Spectacular scenery, wonderful weather and good company. The walk was easier than I thought and I was fitter than most. Did the extra peak of Tongoriro summit. Well worth the hour and a half detour and would recommend it. The walk finished with best part of an hour walking off through wonderful bush anf semi tropical forest.

Of those that I swapped notes with, three young yanks had done the freefall the day before and raved about it,, best thing they'd ever done..except maybe free offpiste skiing once. Four Irish lads fron Galway were part way through a trip that had already included Thailand, Cambodia and Vietman with wonderful stories.. "You must do Vietnam!" Well, not top of my list but there were stories of wonderful trekking with guides that were either pickled on alcohol or heroin or stuff smoked in banana leaves! The lads kept well clear of it which was just as well as they had to look after the guides much of the time.

On the way down from Auckland and not far short of my destination, there's a place called Waitamo Caves. The boys had done a 4+ hour journey through them. Rock climbs, abseils down waterfalls, plunging under sumps hoping that there was fresh air not far away. Great feeling of adventure. Well recommended so will have to come back again.

Lots of piccies to come later. The bar thast I've found is great, the PC sits on the end of the bar for anyone to use but it has seen better days and still works on steam and very slowly.

15,000 ft tomorrow. Kin'ell! Hope to tell you more tomorrow night.

bfn love to all who checks the blog.