A visit to Lake Taupo!!
I spent Easter at New Zealands largest lake!! My Holiday started early Good Friday with a lift to Palmaston North from a very kind teacher. I then finally got to meet the girls from Marton to go the rest of the way to Taupo! The drive to Taupo had some of the most amazing views especially of Mount Roupahu and so the 4 hour trip went quite quickly while looking out and singing along to the radio! Instead of staying in a hostel we rented a batch (which i would recommend doing in NZ!). It was right by the lake and for the extremely cheap price we paid it was awesome 
. The batch had everything you could need including a Canadian canoe and a trampoline! It was great to spend most evening chilling in the batch with a few ciders and walking down to the lake to watch the sun set
Lake Taupo is massive, I knew it was going to be big but it just never seamed to end!! The area is a lot more touristy than other places I have visited in NZ but that also meant there was a big range of things we could see and do. All along just one stretch of road we visited; Huka falls, NZ honey tasting shop, craters of the moon and the opening of the Aratiatia dam. We even enjoyed a walk along part of the lake and got some great views! Its defiantly a must to visit a mineral water hot pools while in NZ and so we took the opportunity at DeBretts in Taupo and even had a few goes of the slide :p Easter is the perfect excuse to eat chocolate for breakfast, lunch and dinner and even better being handed free chocolate. I must say it was very different going out for an indian meal for easter when i am used to a roast dinner but it was a nice change.
Tramping in the NZ bush!!
Masterson is surrounded by mountain ranges and it was great to actually get to walk thought some of what I see everyday! The Tararua forest was quiet a steep walk up to the tutuwai Hut but luckily it only started to rain just before we arrived! Staying in a hut was quiet different to a usual tent, felt like luxury having a mattress, running water oh and the pet mouse. Even had a super fast dip in the river! I think I will remember most about my NZ tramping experience is that I got lost at the very end and although I was only missing for around an hour search and rescue were called! I defiantly found out the hard way how easy it can be to lose your way, and I think this is what I will be remembered for at my placement! (The gappie that got lost :p)
The capital!!
Wellington is defiantly one of my favourite cities, it might be small and very windy but has a lot to offer . The trains are so slow in NZ but they are reasonably more comfortable than home and so the just under 2 hour ride to Wellington isn’t so bad from Masterton. I have stayed in 2 different hostels now, the YHA is great and very clean but so big that you don’t get the backpackers atmosphere that you get at the smaller hostels like worldwide. I have just fallen in love with the Cuba street area, in the day it has awesome coffee shops and vintage shops but also in the evening the street has the best restaurants, bars and on a Friday night the food market has food from all around the world including awesome burritos, churos and very strange Mexican hot chocolate!!
Being the nerd I am I visited zealandia which is an amazing bird sanctuary for the native birds of NZ! defiantly worth a visit and even better on a good day to have a walk around the reserve!! Also got to visit the Wellington zoo for just $2 on gold coin day. Even if we had to que for 30mis it was still worth going to see the kiwis as you can see them without any glass in the way like most other places. The TePapa is such an awesome museum, great to learn about New Zealand history and culture and also a highlight to see the colossal squid. The famous cable car up to the observatory was great to go up in the evening and see all the city lights! Was also really interesting visiting the planetarium and learning about the stars visible from the Southern Hemisphere!
Wellington has some awesome places to eat and drink . (Although not always the cheapest) I would certainly recommend all the places I have been including; TJs Japanese restaurant, cafes along the water front and Cuba street, food at the market and wood fire pizza on Cuba! Although expensive Wellington does have a good night life but it was quite difficult to find cheap drinks and good music all in one! I have said over and over how kind people here are but would you believe I even got a free hair cut and colour worth over $200 by a professional hair stylist just because I am a backpacker in the right place at the right time, just another reason for loving New Zealand!!!
