Auckland to Hahei was the first leg of our Stray tour of New Zealand. It started out with a 7am start which if it hadn't been for the quick drink we went out for with our room mates Serena and Kathryn that result in us getting to after midnight, it wouldn't have been too bad. We found whilst in the bar that the two girls had changed their start date and would be joining us.
Around 8am Veno a hyperactive ex-trucker and our tour guide for next few days arrived to collect us. Once we had collected everyone else we headed off for our first stop at Mount Eden. This is an extinct volcano on the outskirts of Auckland or a big hole on top of a hill.
After lunch we had a quick stop to exchange our bad spirit for good ones mouri style by hugging huge trees. Now Veno told us some people feel this exchange of spirit when doing the hugging thing where as I mearly felt a bit silly.
When we arrived in Hahei we had about an hour to drop off our stuff and get changed before heading off to the hot water beach. Hot water beach gets its name from the hot fresh water that is pushed up through sand by volcanic pressure.
We were given shovels and told to dig our own hot tubs, this was easier said than as the hot water only appeared in certain places. The group we were with ended waiting until some left then the lads set about making a small pool in to a large pool for everyone. We soon found that the hot water was actually scolding hot and we had to extend the pool into the normal sand to find cold water to mix.
We then sat around and enjoyed our handwork until the tide came in and filled our hot tub with what felt like ice sea water. So some of us then ran into the ocean of a bit of body surfing.
Around 8am Veno a hyperactive ex-trucker and our tour guide for next few days arrived to collect us. Once we had collected everyone else we headed off for our first stop at Mount Eden. This is an extinct volcano on the outskirts of Auckland or a big hole on top of a hill.
After lunch we had a quick stop to exchange our bad spirit for good ones mouri style by hugging huge trees. Now Veno told us some people feel this exchange of spirit when doing the hugging thing where as I mearly felt a bit silly.
When we arrived in Hahei we had about an hour to drop off our stuff and get changed before heading off to the hot water beach. Hot water beach gets its name from the hot fresh water that is pushed up through sand by volcanic pressure.
We were given shovels and told to dig our own hot tubs, this was easier said than as the hot water only appeared in certain places. The group we were with ended waiting until some left then the lads set about making a small pool in to a large pool for everyone. We soon found that the hot water was actually scolding hot and we had to extend the pool into the normal sand to find cold water to mix.
We then sat around and enjoyed our handwork until the tide came in and filled our hot tub with what felt like ice sea water. So some of us then ran into the ocean of a bit of body surfing.
We finished the day off with a BBQ back at our accommodation - I was straight in there to help with the cooking.
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