Day 32 – Bay of Islands

The things we do for Manchester United!!! Due to the time difference here we had to wake up at 7.45am to watch United’s champion’s league game against Celtic but winning 3-0 certainly wakes you up. We were off to the Bay of Islands today so we had to book our bus early in the morning. Auckland is starting to grow on us, it has similarities to back home but one thing about it is that it is very hilly and the Mauri tribes can be seen a lot doing the day. We have to do the odd treck up these hilly roads which does take it out on you!! We arrived at the bus station and went to the supermarket straight away to buy the usual junk food to fill our bellies. To our disgust we found out that food was not allowed on the bus, what sort of bus is this!!! So we hopped on the bus with our food hidden in our bags and sneakily started scoffing the sweets down. Conor and Mike made loads of noise unwrapping there sweets but we got away with it and it felt great. The bus driver was having the craic with us, even though I didn’t have a clue what he was saying but he was smiling so it was all good!! Conor sat beside a complete weirdo on the bus. He had long shaggy hair and a big beard and his pants were falling down. He was on the phone giving out about how his license was revoked and everyone on the bus could hear him….luckily Conor moved well away from him. These bus’s are no where near the standard of South America but we can’t complain as it only took four hours to get to the Bay of Islands. We got to the Bay after six so it was beginning to get Dark. Our first impressions were that there is plenty to do around here. After walking up another big hill (with our backpacks might I add), we arrived at our Apartment suitably named “Sublime apartments”. It is a very well laid out apartment and it is nice to have a break from the backpacker world for a while. Unfortunately there were only three beds so we had to fight over who got the two single beds. Conor and Myself won the battle so Tom and Mike had to share the big double bed. Neither party seemed to mind and from were I was looking it was a match made in heaven…they looked so comfortable as if they have done this before. However, like all married couples, they had a mini row over the sheets as Tom wrapped himself up in Mikes sheets. They eventually sorted it out. We got an early nights sleep as we decided that we will get up pretty early to suss out what activity we will do tomorrow. It looks like the “Mack Attack” will be our first priority …..we will find out more about this tomorrow.

Kia Ora,

Gary