Kia Ora!

First off we apologize for not writing in ages, but we've been so busy that there has been no time to write. 
Secondly let me tell you the purpose of this blog. We have re-thought our ideas for the website, and this blog is going to have shorter, day-based, entries whilst the interactive map will have more points designed to pin point points of interest and longer, track based posts. Having said that I think we'll just write whatever and see what happens (i think we all are starting to feel that loads of videos and pictures are a better way to tell our stories). 


Soooo. Auckland.
Oh and I forgot to say that we are going to try and write our blogs as close to how we would say it as possible, in an effort to make it less dull. So there will be bits of our slang mixed in, but we have done our best to remove any swearing or potentially offensive words (if taken the wrong way).

What has happened? Saxon Tint and Caia Dominicus drove Anders and I to the airport where we got on a ridiculously long flight. 25 hours flying and we are in Auckland. Chilled on the grass in the parking lot for 5 hours and met up with DM, who flew from Dubai via Singapore. Unfortunately he had a gruelling 14 hour wait in the airport before continuing onto Auckland.

Ricky Morton (old friend of the Fords) showed up and drove us to his house in Castor Bay, which is sickness. Quick trip to the supermarket and we were eating some choice cuts and let me tell you, Stephan (an adventurous, traveller) and Dave (Ricky's brother) know how to cook a steak, super taste.

Day 2 and we cruized into Auckland to spend money and take it all in, still kinda jaded bout being in NZ. Spent a load of money but got most of the shiz we needed. 

Day 3 and we headed back into Auckland to get the DOC hutpasses setting us back $92 dollars each (better be worth it!). Then, back in Castor Bay, Dave drove us to a volcanic lake which the locals use for cliff diving. Totally sweet. havent lept off a rock in some time and that was the business. cliff jumping video

Motivation to get stuff done kicked in on the 20th and we packed a little and headed with Ricky on a trip to Piha beach. One car crash later... no seriously we were in a 6-car pileup. Ricky though, has the skills and avoided the crash only to have some guy slam into the back of us. Unfortunately he's gunna have to have the back bumper and maybe door replaced but thankfully no one was hurt, at all. Carried on to Piha beach which was taste. 


It was low tide so we could walk out to Lion Rock - a massive rock which was a local hangout for spiritual Maori's, or something... there was a Pou (wooden totem, a guardian) and some  plaques and stuff. Should've probably learnt a little more about the significance of it but there was some sweet volcanics and rock pools to pay attention to. On the scenic drive back we managed to miss our turn by 50 miles or so... still the vegetation (lots of ferns and palms and huge trees (still cant wait to see a Kauri tree though) here makes drives that much more fun. Back at home we had a sick party and...well, you know...

In between all that stuff happening we've been getting the tents prepped for some serious rain (which actually came on Saturday night) by 'sealing' the seams with a silicone paste mixed with petrol, smells pretty terrible but now the tents are fully watertight and have grippy bases (thicker silicone).

Everyone here is pretty awesome. Massive huge thank you to Helen, Ricky and Dave Morton for putting us up for 4 days!

On the bus now to Paihia to catch the ferry to Russell and stay with Jane Hindle (an old friend of Anders and DM's mum) for a day or two, where we will pack up some food and water before finally starting the TASTYTREK! 

- Landey