Blonde Babblings: January 2006

beautiful scenery in Tauranga.

waterfalls....

Hanging out at Tauranga beach by mount manganui (sp?) watching the surfers and tanning....

From the Ahipara to the bay of islands briefly and then back to auckland. then to Tauanga! I was able to stay with my south african friend who i met in christchurch and her wonderful family. (claire, me and her mom)

SANDBOARDING!!! so fast, so fun.

here is Heidi and I just hanging out chatting and eating food like always.

i managed to make my way fromt eh bay of islands to this little town called ahipara. I stayed at an amazing hostel: The Endless Summer Lodge. It was so memorable. No TV, no fast food, simply hammocks and friendly conversation. Oh and surfing of course. The house didnt have many beds so the few who were there became like family... a mostly german family. tee hee.

On the STRAY bus again up further north to the bay of islands. We stopped here at a marine reserve... that is goat island behind me. and in the water were heaps of gorgeous fish! ... if i would have left only a day later i could have gone snorkelling there for free! drat.

here i am in the bay of islands.... i didnt like it here too much. very touristy and not much to do for me.

One of my better days in Auckland... I sat at this park in the middle of the city and painted and sketched the day away. I also got to go to some nice art galleries and cafes. (this is a view of the Sky tower)

A view fromt he sky towere where i got to have an awesome buffet lunch witht the funk family. yumm. There was heaps to do in the tower.... gambling, shopping, bungee jumping, eating and standing high up with nothing but glass below you.

alixx and i all dressed up for her friends birthday party. I had the priviledge of staying with her family: the Funk's. They were so amazing!

a view of the rainy Auckland before leaving.

when i made it across to the north island, after long bus and boat rides, i started my tour with a backpacker bus company called stray. oh so good.

This is where i started my 3 day hike in the gorgeous abel tasman national park. The scenery was amazing and the golden beaches were to die for.... wow, such good memories.