my eyes are burning from staring at this computer all day long. but it is worth it as i got so much work done you wouldn't believe it. we've added over 50 pages just today! and we've been tidying things up. i know that there are a lot of coming soon pages throughout the site and some of them have been there for ages. well, i'm working on it. and we've even started a contest to help get the information we're looking for. here's the deal... send us the best review and get $50. just click here for more information...

i've gotten access to a bunch of new maps so we will be updating that section and actually providing you with maps of each country. it'll help when you start planning your round the world trip.

i'm really interested in getting the scuba and surfing sections going, just get some more action and activities for you guys. they boys around here are obsessed with surfing so i'm trying to purge the information from them.

been looking into getting a working holiday visa for canada but the website is a bit crap. you can't find anything you need to answer questions and when you call them you get a recording that says to check the website. what ever happened to personal attention?

okay so back to the tiki tour...

we left otrohanga and waitomo and headed up to taupo where we'd being staying at the yha action downunder. the hostel was average but we know the owners so its where we were at. we arrived into taupo around 3pm and went for a quick night. it was gonna be a huge night out on the town as we'd seen the kiwi experience and magic buses.

after a quick shower and change we were ready and headed out the door. the hostel was a bit far out of town but it was great to walk along the water front and check out lake taupo and the beautiful sunset. we stopped and watch the golf challenge - hit a ball 80m to a platform and try to make a hole in one, not an easy thing!

we passed several motels and apartments before coming upon a bunch of waterside cafes and restaurants. unsure of exactly what we were looking for we strolled on, checking out menu along the way. as we rounded the corner to head up the main street we came upon the famed mulligans. if you're gonna be in taupo, you start the night at mulligans. its that simple.

wouldn't you know as we walked in, there was rangi and his magic bus and smiley with his crew from waitomo. the bar was packed and a bunch of our mates were there and ready to drink. we chowed down on barfood to line our stomachs and then the night was on. around 11pm we headed upstairs next door to the holy cow. the bar reminded me of the woolshed in cairns as the crowds were dancing away on the table. we ran into the owner, doughboy, and it was all over. jagerbomb after beer after tequila after jagerbomb, it was 1am and we had a big day ahead of us. it was time to go home! we stumbled back to the hostel with a requisite stop at the garage for munchies. the rest is a bit of a blur...

okay, so i know i said i would do weekly updates from now on and i'm trying... there's just so much cool stuff going on that i run out of time before i get my blog done!

i'm trying to convince one of my travelling mates to start writing the blog for us but i haven't given him enough incentive. how many free beers do you need???

i promise to write more about the tiki trip thru new zealand. still working on it.

spent the weekend on "the rock"... it was a wicked experience and something i highly recommend. it is basically an overnight cruise for backpackers. we did it all and i even caught my first fish!! yes, me the girly girl caught her first fish. they tried to make me kiss it but i had none of that. it's quite a funny one!

well i have to run... talk to you soon!

just a quick note to make sure you guys check out the new hostels section... it's been completely updated and redesigned to make it easier to use. also, check out this fantastic offer... book any tour or hostel in Paihia, Bay of Islands, New Zealand, and we'll give you an hour of free internet! It's really quite simple. Just click here for more information...