Turangi, Taupo, Rotorua, Waitomo Caves

First of all, I wish you all a happy new year!

I was really lucky and had beautiful weather for the Tongariro Crossing! At the start of the walk I met a german girl and she asked me if she could walk with me as she was on her own as well. So we walked together....The first bit was quite an easy walk. You felt like walking on the moon. There were black rocks all over the place and there was a big vulcano. Then we had to walk up a really steep hill. I struggled and was really dizzy as I obvously didn't eat enough. After eating an apple I felt good again and could move on... .. On top of the hill, we met another german guy who stayed in the same room as me. He joined us and we all went up the next steep hill together. The view was just so amazing!! I haven't seen such a special scenery so far! There was a crater which was dark red and some small lakes which had a bright blue colour! Absolutly awesome!!! The way down was a it boring.

It was like going down stairs for about 3 hours!!! My knees didn't like that at all!!! After about 6 1/2 hours walk we finally got to the car park where we were picked up and brought back to the backpackers.

The next day, I travelled to Taupo. I think I didn't do much that day.....can't remember really....except for booking the riverrafting for the next day.

Riverrafting was so much fun! Our groupe did really well and nobody fell out of the raft! We went through grad 3 and 4 rapids. But actually, I expected it to be much faster. I'll have to go on a grad 5 rafting one day....

On the 2nd January, Claire and Maurice, friends of a friend of mine from Switzerland, picked me up from the backpackers and we went for a coffee together with their friends Ann and Ted.

They are all so nice people!! I stayed two nights at their house. They were really really nice to me and it was so nice to have my own room!

On the next day, they showed me all the nice places around Taupo. We went to the Aratiatia Rapids, to a glass blowing factory, to Huka Falls and to a very special cafe... I had such a good time!

I arrived at Rotorua at lunchtime the next day. After booking my trip for the next day, I went for a walk on the lake front. That was really special as there is steam and boiling water all over the place and sometimes an evil smell hits you!!

On Friday, I went to Wai-o-Tapu, Thermal Wonderland. It's really impossible to describe that...just look at the pics. In the afternoon, I chilled out on the lake front. It was a beautiful day!

Saturday was Waitomo Cave day.

... I did the rap rock and raft tour which included abseiling, blackwaterrafting, glowworm caves and climbing. It was really really exciting and cool. I enjoyed it so much, especially the climbing! I will definetly do that again!

Yesterday, I made my way to Auckland where Stephanie picked me up from the bus station. I am staying at Stephanie's and Graham's place till Satuarday. They are so nice and I've got my own room again which is soooooo nice after staying in the dorms all the time. I haven't seen much of Auckland so far but I can already tell that I like this city!