THERMAL POOLS / MUD POOLS

Naturally occuring thermal pools and mud pools are dotted around, this one was near to Mount Rotorua, they are free to get into and are usually just along the side of the road.

LAKE TAUPO / HUKA FALLS

Lake Taupo is a water filled volcanic crater, the Huka falls is a huge waterfall, both are major tourist destinations.

Whilst at Lake Taupo i did a spot of camping and also had a trip to the honey farm... free honey :-)

ROUND THE NORTH ISLAND

Waterfalls....... waterfalls are everywhere around New Zealand, whenever I can i like to have a swim in them, the one in the first picture was water from the glacier on the mountain so was freezing, the next one wasnt so bad though :-)

Mount Ruapehu

Mount Ruapehu, or just Ruapehu, is an active stratovolcano at the southern end of the Taupo Volcanic Zone in New Zealand. It is 23 kilometres northeast of Ohakune and 40 kilometres southwest of the southern shore of Lake Taupo, within Tongariro National Park. The North Island's major skifields and only glaciers are on its slopes.

Ruapehu is one of the world's most active volcanoes^[1] and the largest active volcano in New Zealand. It is the highest point in the North Island and includes three major peaks: Tahurangi (2,797 m), Te Heuheu (2,755 m) and Paretetaitonga (2,751 m). The deep, active crater is between the peaks and fills with a crater lake between major eruptions.

WAIROUI

Wairorui is a small town in the middle of the lower half of the North Island. It is remote and is pretty much famous purely for its military connections. It was good though because theys loads of waterfalls and the biggest mountain – Ruapehu of the North Island about 20 minute drive away. And its close by to beaches and other tourist attractions are within about an hours drive.

SYDNEY

We stayed just outside the city centre, we arrived about 9pm so just went for a few drinks then bed, the next morning I was woke up by parrots and outside they were loads of parakeets and parrots flying around. By the time we left about lunchtime it was already mid twenties temperature.

HAWAII

Hawaii is a tiny island which is off the coast of USA, it is most famous for its surfing on Waikiki beach. The hotel we stayed in was directly on the beach so as soon as we got there I went and bought some swimming things and went straight to the beach. Whilst swimming, directly beside us was a huge sea turtle. The hotel was really good and we managed to get a good night out around the bars in waikiki with it been St Patricks day.

ST LOUIS

St Louis is in the USA next to Kansas, its known as the “Gate way to the west” I stayed in the Millenium Hotel (5 Star – Paid by NZ Air force :-)). It is city renowned for its jazz music. I managed to get out into the city and go get some food from a local jazz bar.

Enroute:

The flight in total took 5 days, the route was as follows:

Mon: Germany to UK

Tues: UK to Canada onto St Louis

Weds: St Louis to San Francisco to Hawaii

Thurs: Hawaii to Samoa to Sydney

Fri: Sydney to New Zealand

I stayed over in UK, St Louis, Hawaii and Sydney.

 Above is the plane we had, its just a normal plane sprayed grey. This photo is taken in Samoa.

UK was just admin and prior to deployment briefings.