Well that has got to have been about the worse night’s sleep (or lack of) that I can remember! I will not be recommending the XBase Backpackers in Auckland. Perhaps I was just unlucky but there were 6 of us in the dorm, 2 to start with when I went to bed. We had to have the window open because it was so warm and we could have been in the centre of New York City for the traffic noise outside. But on top of that there were people yelling and screaming. And that is not all, others who were sharing the dorm seemed to be coming and going all night long, switching the lights on and off and banging the door.
I eventually had to get up at 6 to hop on the bus only to find a bloke in the bunk below me so I had to clamber down without waking him. Then to my horror I saw he’d put all of his belongings, including wallet and phone, in front of my locker which was under his bunk. While groping around in the dark as quietly as I could, he turned over and opened his eyes. I whispered an apology for waking him and tried to explain. ‘That’s cool’ he murmered, and turned over.
Anyway, eventually I managed to escape this hell hole and saw Daniel’s familiar smiling face in the lobby. (I’d met him on the bus the day before). Together we boarded the Kiwi bus for Paihai, in the Bay of Islands. Now, I’m going to leave out detail of the journey up to Paihai as I don’t have much time to write but needless to say the scenery was awesome.
As I write this posting, all is different here and I find myself chatting with my dorm mates all evening…. but more of that in the next blog!
When we arrived in Paihai, Daniel and I had booked ourselves on to a boat trip which was due to leave half an hour after our arrival so we had changed into our swimmers en route. This trip involved swimming with dolphins which of course was number one of my list of to dos.
It was a beautiful hot day so I put on some sunblock liberally and before long I found myself in paradise (again) speeding across the bay in search of dolphins.
It wasn’t long before we caught sight of a pair of fins appearing and disappearing below the surface. Then more, a whole school of them surrounded the boat, some swimming underneath. We prepared ourselves to slip into the water. I was so excited that I was the first one in and snorkelling fast towards them. We were told to make noises and be funny to interact with them.
It was just wonderful to be in the water with them although they were a little shy or perhaps not particularly interested. We did this a few times and then went on a trip around all the many islands in the bay where there were gannet colonies and interesting rock formations.
Just the perfect introduction to the Bay of Islands and it was only going to get better. I eventually checked in at Pipi Patch Backpackers. I asked for a quiet room, not too near the bar, as I hadn’t slept for a couple of nights. I didn’t really want to have a private room as this would not really be part of the experience. I was offered an all-female dorm and it was a self-contained chalet with its own en suite and kitchen and two separate bedrooms with 4 in each (two sets of bunks). I met the girls in the other bunk in my room, two German girls travelling together. They were so friendly and welcoming and we chatted and chatted about anything and everything….. hence no time for blog (well not much anyway). After a shaky beginning to the Kiwi expedition, I have a strong feeling this is all going to be good from now on……
Will have to add pics later guys cos the internet here is rubbish and they won’t upload.
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