ROTORUA - WHITE WATER RAFTING

Another weekend, and more outdoor activities.
The work crew decided to rent another car (this time a van, as there were 5 of us), and head to Rotorua.
Zorbing, and bungie were also proposed, but that did not look as good a sin the brochures.

On the way there, I introduced them to the Meat Pie, and we finished off with greasy fish –n-chips (wrapped in a newspaper).

Thats how you eat a PIE!!!

Drive around the Lake...

AKL vs ADL

RANGITOTO ISLAND

On Sunday, work crew group took ferry tour across the bay to a volcanic island, which in Kiwi’s youngest volcano, which created the island some 600 years ago, during its eruption.

Interesting, but not as exciting as previous day’s activities …. View across to Auckland city (from top of the volcano cone) was quite spectacular.

WAITOMO CAVES

First weekend, and we rented a car, and drove 200km south to do some abseiling and black-water diving, and see the glow-worms; http://www.waitomo.com/caving-adventure.aspx.

Absailing 30m down into the caves.

Crawling around through caves (dont think about the eels!!!!)

Bit of fun in the dark!!

Climbing out through the blackwater

.. the tour operator only had a small camera (which struggled in the dark), so below are some professionally taken pics, to get idea of what we did for 5 hours underground:

FIRST WEEK IN AUCKLAND

My first week in Auckland was pretty awesome. There are couple guys down from US for only a few weeks, so we have been very busy wining and dining …. And also discovered Chimay beer … and managed to drink the Belgium Beer Café dry of all their Blue Grand Reserve (including the 1.5litre magnums).

What happens when you run out of 750ml bottles ... go straight up to the 1.5L!!

The Kiwis are relaxed and very switched on, and there is a great atmosphere of getting things done .. with a good balance of work and fun…. Not to mention the breaks for morning-teas, and Friday afternoon drinks (something that did not happen in the US ... ever!!!).

The offices are slick and modern, high enough in the Lumley building to overlook Auckland harbor, so its great being there, and every few hours just take a few minutes out of the day, and stare out into the horizon.

Currently they put us up in OAK Apartments across the road (less than minute away), which are convenient, but a bit small and boxy, and I have been looking at other more permanent arrangements, and currently trying to stitch up an awesome pad in the Mertropolis building (below)… will let you know how it turns out.