New Zealand - Precautions

Go to the Blue Ice Cafe, drink lots of whatever you drink eat the great food then hop in a chopper do the overland Glacier tour then get out go to the info centre get tickets for a horse ride and do the sunset beach tour. Than stay at the YHA or any of the other great venues. Rafting is also a hit you can fly into the alps get dropped off and do anything from 1-3 day tours. Avoid the new climbing wall and talk to the locals because they know where to go, make sure you meet a guy called Scumbag aka Greg Brown and you will be the luckiest person in the world. Also the best things are 30km before hand in HARI HARI because thats where the Wildside backpackers is get the hut out the back and stay with Dan and Kath for as long as you want, suggested minimum is a month.

its windy.very very windy.

Whakatane is in the center of the Bay of Plenty region and renown for its sunshine, excellent beaches, many surrounding orchards ( fresh fruit and veges are easy to come by) and the charter fishing fleet. There are big game boats targeting the tuna and marlin during the summer, not to mention huge white island kingfish with lots of other stuff in between. Rotorua and the hot springs are just down the road as well as the lakes and rivers which are full of trout.

Te Araroa is the nearest town to the East Cape Lighthouse (only 26 km down a metal road). There are two shops to buy stuff at, there is a sports club, a rugby field, a post office, a petrol station and a pub/hotel. Te Araron has one of the oldest and possible largest Pohutukawa tree living there next to the school and marae. There is a Manuku Honey factory down the road which sells delicious stuff. Te Araroa is a magical place because you are literally so far from Gisborne and Opotiki (the largest cities) that one really notices how clean the air is.

Visit hot water beach when the tide is low (bring a spade) and dig yourself a spa. Nightime has less tourists and a more romantic feel to it. Although look out for freak waves.

dont go in on dole day

Visit the fabulous Chow restaurant for the two for one meal on Monday night. $12.00 lunch menu. Go to Yoga for life to stretch out your aches and pains and learn effective breathing techniques. Have a chinese massage in Cuba street. Excellent foot reflexology there too. Go to Kaffee Eis for a divine chocolate ice-cream and look at the beautiful Oriental Bay Harbour. Get an amazing hair cut at Hair by the Sea in Petone and look at the magnificent view out the window while your at it.

How come folk seem to like this place? it's shit!! So English, not what you really want to experience in that part of the globe. I guess it's clean though, but watch out for thieves in hostels, many of my friends got they're bags nicked or tampered with. If I were you, I'd get out of this bland city and head around the bay towards Littletown and other harbours., General Impressions,

the best places to swim are tahunanui beach, rabbit island (its a beach) and the aniseed valley (if your into fresh water rivers, but freaking freezing!) haha i went to school at "lego land" (Garin College) its in richmond. when i lived there most weekends (in summer) we would either go to the beach or the rivers. for the brave at the A. J. hacket bridge there is a water hole and you can jump off the bridge into the river... cant say i was brave enough to actually jump from the top of the bridge but i jumped off the rock which is futher down the road from A.J. hacket. bus sevice is SH*t so dont even bother trying that-try spending an hour in the hot sun in richmond waiting for the bus to come and take you to the beach-pretty much jumped straight into the water when we finally got there! i wonder if i can edit this later to add more when i think of it...

A great place to visit the dead and to lodge your pet whilst you go somewhere more exciting!