Waitomo Caves

Thurdsday 29th Feb 2009

The Waitomo caves are situated on the West coast of New Zealands north island just below Hamilton and about a 3hr drive from Auckland. The company there runs caving trips for visitors and they get you all suited and booted so you can tackle the caves, see the glow worms and jump off underground waterfalls.

I got there at 13:00 and was due to go on a cave trip at 14:00 but decided against it when i realised it was $200, I'm not a tight arse but I just thought this was a bit much for what they were offering, (much like many of NZ's attractions) so i left the caves and headed for my sisters in Auckland arriving there around 18:00.

Napier and the Eskdale forrest

Was in Napier the last couple of days the place is the Art deco capital after it was destroyed by a massive earthquake in 1950 i think its a cool place on the east coast right next to the beach. I camped at the Top 10 Campsite again and met a guy called stephan from South Africa, he worked in the gold mines and was sound as!! we got bevveyed up and just talked shit like you do when your drunk.
The weather was sound i went up to the Eskdale forest mountain bike tracks and had a blast there.. The tracks are well good and its an easy ride up the road to get to the top.
The Dh tracks are steep and fast technical with some big jumps road gaps and drop offs it's a bit like Ae forest mixed with Hamsterley.

I had a couple off crashes and sliced my left fuck you finger cause i thought it would be alright if i never had my gloves on what a prick iam..Im leaving tomorrow for Wellington and that should be good as the MTB tracks there are supposed to be technical and tight.

NZ I'm Here

I touched down in Auckland This morning at 06:20 and the temperature was 16'C the flight over was real good with a stop in L.A. to re-fuel, we flew over Las Vegas and you could make out the MGM grand and a few other buildings the place looks mint from the air.
Once into LA you have to enter the country and then get put in a holding pen while the plane re-fuels!! It's a bit of a farce as you have to fill in immigration forms in just to transit but at least the passport get's stamped, so that's another one for the collection.

I got a Shuttle bus from Auckland airport to my sisters which is in the C.B.D (Central Business district) or the city centre, the place where she stays is amazing its basicaly a 5*hotel that have the odd apartments bought out in it, Its well smart, has amazing views and only 2min walk to the main shopping bit. So on that note im gonna grab a shower and head in to see what's on the go..

Dont Fly Quantas

Got to the ceck in dest friday morning to go to NZ Quantas wanted £1100 to take my bike to NZ i tried for hours to get it changed but they would't budge.. The BA girls could not belive it as they only charge £30 and Air NZ only £50.. I even put on there website that i was taking my bike and it never said nothing about having to pay £1100.. So il have had to re-book for tuesday with NZ airways il be out in NZ for the 29th Jan.... Im trying to claim back the cost of my flight from Quantas now....

2 Days to go until im off to Oz/Nz

Well the holiday money has been ordered my bike bag weighs about 50Kg and Im well looking forward to the 29hr flight...

Keep a look out for regular updates of my trip as it unfolds..