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Taupo sunset
February 5, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Today I worked on reception 8-16:00. After work we went for a walk around the lake. Beautiful sunset this evening. We also found lots of thermal rivers and pools. We went for a drink at two Mile bay sailing club. It had a beautiful terrace over looking the lake.Read more
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New Zealand Traveler
Waitangi Taupō Moana Festival
February 6, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
This afternoon we went to Waitangi Taupo Moana festival held which is held every year on a public holiday. We went with friends from work. There were food stools and kiwi bands. The event celebrates Waitangi day (New Zealand marks the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840) In that year, representatives of the British Crown and over 500 Māori chiefs signed what is often considered to be New Zealand’s founding document. The day was first officially commemorated in 1934, and it has been a public holiday since 1974.Read more
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New Zealand Traveler
Otumuheke and work night out
February 7, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
After work I went to Taupo Bungy jump viewing point. It was very entertaining to watch other people do it. I'm not sure I want to do it as i don't like the idea of jumping head first. Beautiful scenery at the view point. I then wondered to Otumuheke a natural hot springs and river you can swim in.

In the evening we had some drinks in the garden. One of our work friends Quinten did a fire show. It was very impressive to watch. We then went for some drinks in a bar. It was a fun night out! Unfortunately didn't take any photos on the night out.Read more
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New Zealand Traveler
Work and relaxing afternoon
February 8, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Not a very exciting day today. Worked on house keeping in the morning then relaxed in the garden in the afternoon reading my kindle. Ashleigh worked on reception.
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New Zealand Traveler
Dream team
February 9, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌙 14 °C
Today i worked all day housekeeping in the morning then reception in the evening until 8.45pm. Unfortunately the Internet stopped working while I was on reception, just my luck! But managed to get through the shift with some help from my colleagues :)

In the photo- (Wren, Conny, Quinten, Jonathan, Jayson and Lisan)Read more
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New Zealand Traveler
Geothermal walk, honey hive and dam
February 10, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Finally we had a full day off together. We hired some mountain bikes for the day. We cycled up the hill to craters of the moon. Craters of the moon is a geothermal walkway. We walked amongst bubbling craters and steaming vents. It was very impressive.. Felt like we were on another planet.

We then enjoyed an ice cream in the sun and cycled to huka honey hive. We saw a large bee hive, tasted different types of honey and sampled some honey whiskeys and wine.

We then cycled to Aratiatia dam and rapids. We saw the opening of the dam, it was very impressive. It releases 80,000 litres of water per second causes fast rapids. We then had a tough 2 hour cycle back to Taupo town. Up and down steep hills on a mountain bike track along the river.Read more
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New Zealand Traveler
Botanical gardens and swim in the lake
February 11, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌙 16 °C
This morning we went for a coffee by the lake. Ashleigh was working on reception in the afternoon. I went for a three hour walk to the Waipahihi botanical gardens. I walked through native trees, saw lots of different birds including the Tui bird and had beautiful views of the lake and mountains. I then went for a swim in the lake to cool of.Read more
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New Zealand Traveler
Busy morning at work then relaxing after
February 12, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
We both worked today for 6 hours busy morning/afternoon as we had lots of check outs. I didn't fancy doing much this afternoon so read my kindle by the lake and went for a swim. Ashleigh was on reception.Read more
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New Zealand Traveler
Hot springs and swim
February 13, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Today Ashleigh and I went for a swim and relaxed in the hot spring pools. I then had a busy shift on reception in the evening. Having an early night ready for something very exciting tomorow!
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New Zealand Traveler
Birthday skydive!!
February 14, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
It was finally the morning of my sky dive. I woke up feeling very nervous. I struggled eating my breakfast. We got picked up in a limo. The guy handed two ipads to us to fill out some information and sign the waiver. I said to the driver Ashleigh isn't doing it. He replied "Yes I am I'm doing it with you" He booked on to it without telling me!!

When we got to the sky diving place we watched videos of people skydiving and I asked if i could upgrade to the orbit camera which I got for free because it was my birthday :) We got kitted out in to our skydiving jumpsuits. My skydiving partner was called Ronny and my photographer was called Ben. We all went in to a small plane. The main entrance was open while we went down the runway and was shut when we took off. The plane went up to 15,000ft it took about 20 minutes. The nerves were starting to really kick in now as I looked out of the window, seeing how high up we were going. The views, however were amazing. As we got higher we had to have oxygen masks. The entrance of the plane opened and there were two people who went out before me. I watched them fall.

Feeling very scared but excited it was nearly my turn. Ronny tightened the harness. I put my hat on and we moved to the edge of the plane before I could think we were falling. I could see the sky and then the floor and then the sky and then the floor. My brain couldn't quite believe what was happening. I then remember falling down quickly but not tumbling now. It was incredible I felt like I was flying!! At times you couldn't breath properly for a few seconds and then you were fine.. But that was okay as I learnt quickly I will be able to catch my breath. The views of the mountains and lake taupo were spectacular. After 60 seconds of free fall the parachute went up. I was able to control the parachute myself which was good fun. The landing was actually very smooth. I just had to lift my legs up. Ashleigh landed shortly after me with a huge grin on his face. He absolutely loved it just like I did!

In the afternoon we went on a boat trip. We had pizza and wine on the boat and went for a swim near the maori rock carvings. We went with Jayson and Jonathan and a guy we met in our hostel. In the evening we went for some drinks in Mulligans with Jeanne, conny, Jonathan and Jayson. What a birthday!Read more
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New Zealand Traveler
Work and swim in the lake
February 15, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
Yesterday I worked from 9-2pm. Ashleigh worked on reception in the afternoon. I went for as swim with Bethany . Who has just started working with us. She is from London. It was nice to have a chilled afternoon after such a crazy busy day yesterday. Unfortunately forgot to take any photos.Read more
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New Zealand Traveler
Work and chill in the hot tub
February 16, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
This morning there were two of us on the 7am shift Jeanne and I. Not meant to be two of us, only 1 usually. The manager messed up the rota. We had an easy chilled morning slowly getting everything done. In the afternoon I didn't do much because I wasn't feeling 100%. I read my New Zealand book and wrote some postcards. Then I went in the hot tub with Bethany. Surprised I haven't used it yet in our hostel. We then ordered pizza in the evening only $6 each from pizza hut.Read more
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New Zealand Traveler
Two mile bay
February 17, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
This morning I only worked for 1 hour because I was not needed on housekeeping. Ashleigh working on housekeeping in the morning. We then went for a walk to two mile bay with Jeanne and Bethany. We had a drink by the lake. Conny cut Jonathan's hair and messed it up. It was very entertaining. Bethany managed to fix it luckily in the end.Read more
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New Zealand Traveler
Coffee and cinema to see 1917
February 18, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
This morning we booked a hire car for a road trip tomorrow. Which we are very much looking forward to. We had a work meeting at 1pm and got introduced to our new manager Timo. We went for a coffee at waterside with Jeanne and Bethany. We went to see 1917 film at starlight cinema in Taupo with Wren, Jonathan, Jeanne and Bethany. The film was set during World War I, two British soldiers -- Lance Cpl. Schofield and Lance Cpl. Blake -- receive seemingly impossible orders. In a race against time, they must cross over into enemy territory to deliver a message that could potentially save 1,600 of their fellow comrades -- including Blake's own brother. It was an amazing film very intense and emotionalRead more
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New Zealand Traveler
Road trip to Roturoa
February 19, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
This morning at 8am we picked up the hire car from Rad. Only $60 for the day. We went with Ren and Bethany. It took about 45 minutes to drive to Wai-O-Tapu in Roturoa. The best part of the Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland was the Champagne Pool with its sun burst orange edges and tiny champagne like bubbles on the surface. This place was surreal. We also saw the eruption of lady knox geyser. We also visited the mud pools. It looked amazing, but Wai- O Tapu did smell like rotten eggs due to the sulphur.Read more
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New Zealand Traveler
Crazy busy shift on reception
February 20, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
In the morning I relaxed in the garden reading my kindle. I started shift on reception from 12.30- 9pm. It was non stop all afternoon and evening. Lots of check ins. I was glad to finish!
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New Zealand Traveler
Lunch out and relax
February 21, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
I went out for lunch at cafe kumu Taupo with Bethany. I had a nice cold iced latte with caramel and a breakfast bagel. We also chilled by the lake in the afternoon. I worked on reception 4pm-8pm. Nice short shift and it wasn't too busy. Wren forgot to grab the keys from reception for the night manager. I shut the office and we were locked out. We spoke to our new manager Timo who called a out of hours lock Smith. Luckily its all sorted now.Read more
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New Zealand Traveler
Never want to hear the word bedbug again
February 22, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 18 °C
Woke up to start my 7am shift on housekeeping. Ashleigh started working at 9 along with Bethany, Wren and Jonathan. 2 guests complained they had bed bugs last night and wanted their clothes washed. The whole tour in the hostel then wanted their clothes washed because they were sharing their things. We said that was fine but we ended up with so much washing we didn't think we would get through it (see picture of laundry) We had to fumegate 2 rooms and tip the room upside down.... I didn't actually see one bed bug or see any evidence of this but we tried to keep the guests happy and did their laundry for free. The girls then asked Ashleigh on reception if they could get a letter written to claim on their insurance that they had bed bugs. Ashleigh said he'll email the manager but was not happy to do it considering there was no evidence of bed bugs. They were then bothering us after shift with questions.

We decided then to venture out in the rain and get away from the annoying guests. We had some free vouchers for hole in one where you hit golf balls to a platform on the lake. It was hard but good fun. We then went for a coffee at waterside. We have just had pizza from pizza hut for $4.50 each so cheap! Currently enjoying a bottle of Sauvignon blanc Ashleigh got me for my birthday.Read more
TravelerThat’s horrendous!! 😩😩 I bet you were glad to be finished with it all!
2/22/20Reply
TravelerThey have left this morning! We have had 65 check outs so busy morning cleaning and making beds. The hostel is nice and quiet now :) Hope you are both well! X
2/22/20Reply
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New Zealand Traveler
Rainy Sunday ☔
February 23, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌙 16 °C
Yesterday was a miserable day. Rained all day. I worked from 7-12 Housekeeping. Ashleigh worked from 9-2pm then evening shift on reception. I went out for a hot chocolate with Bethany at Finns. We then watched a film Now you see me 2 and relaxed in the lounge area. Ashleigh and I cooked a curry in the evening.Read more
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New Zealand Traveler
Yoga class and Kayaking
February 24, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌙 16 °C
This morning I helped out and worked for a couple of hours. Ashleigh was on reception during the day. After a couple of hours work Bethany and I went to a yoga class called yoga tree. It was an hour and a half long. It was different to yoga classes I've been to. We used Hatha ropes. It helps improve strength and flexibility. I felt very relaxed afterwards.

We grabbed a coffee then got ready to go out on the lake. We hired a kayak which was good fun

This evening Ashleigh and I relaxed in the hot tub. It has been sunny today but a little cold. It is supposed to be warm from tomorrow. We have booked the Tongariro crossing for Wednesday which we are looking forward to!Read more
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New Zealand Traveler
Swim in the lake
February 25, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
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New Zealand Traveler
Tongariro Alpine Crossing
February 26, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
We got up at 5am. Had an early breakfast ready to be picked up at 6am by adventure HQ bus to the Tongariro crossing. It was a bit chilly when we started the hike but soon got warm. We hiked up and down steep mountains. We has beautiful views passing Mt Tongariro and Mt Doom. We had lunch by the beautiful emerald coloured lakes. Coming down to the lakes was a bit difficult as the stones would move when you went down. It tool us 7 hours to compete the 19km hike we did stop for half and hour for lunch and stopped a few times to take in the views.Read more
TravelerLooks amazing guys xx
3/26/20Reply
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New Zealand Traveler
BBQ with the Haka family
February 27, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Yesterday I went for a coffee with Conny and Elisa who started working with us yesterday at cafe 99. In the evening we all had a bbq at Jeanines new house.
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New Zealand Traveler
Goodbye Jonathan
February 28, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌙 21 °C
Today we went for food and drinks at Lakehouse where conny works. We said good bye to Jonathan who was leaving today to continue his travels. This evening I worked on reception until late.
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New Zealand Traveler
Thermal Spa park Otumuheke
February 29, 2020 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
Yesterday we both worked on housekeeping. I went to the thermal spa park in the afternoon. The weather was a bit grey but it was nice to relax in the hot natural springs.
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