New Zealand - Hahei & Raglan

HAHEI

Well once again it was time to move on - after leaving the Bay of Islands it was back to Auckland for a couple of days before heading off on my trip around New Zealand. The next destination was Hahei which is in the Coromandel region - unfortunately I didn't get to see much of it as I had developed a stinking cold and was in the foulest mood I had been in since Ireland got knocked out of the World Cup qualifiers! Think it has something to do with the diving - plays havoc with the sinuses and apparently the water pressure forces all the crap out.

Anyway I spent most of the day and night in bed being miserable while everyone else was cooking up a storm on the old barbie... Not much else to tell here really as I missed it all! Shame really as there was a kayak trip around the coast and into the caves which would have been good but ce la vie and all that - its only a couple of hours from Auckland so I can do it when I come back from Oz in the New Year.

RAGLAN

So on to Raglan the next day - Raglan is famous for one thing and that is surfing! They have a Rip Curl event here every year or so I'm told anyway. When the swell is just right you can surf one wave over a mile across the beach, hard to believe but true.

As I wasn't quite over my cold I got off here for a couple of days to rest and recuperate. The hostel we stayed in was great - really secluded set up in the rainforest, with only the birds and gloworms to keep you awake of an evening - absolutely fantastic sunsets as well. So what did I get up to? Well I managed to make it down to the beach....no mean feat let me tell you, was a good hour's stroll (queue lots of hills and knee crunching steps!) away. The beach itself is black - all volcanic sand and not many people on it at all - only competition for the top spots were the surfers and a few other sun worshippers, lots of males ones.......very pleasant viewing even if I say so myself!

Apart from that it was chilling in the hammocks, playing cards with a few others or just sitting around chatting. Another good place to meet some really cool people. Again a top spot and somewhere to go to just chill out and recharge the batteries and of course to admire the scenery (ahem)!