Finally the 16th of December arrived and Manu and me could leave Australia after a month of work on the vineyard and a couple of days in melbourne. Destination: of course, New Zealand! (again: the first country for us were we went twice on holidays).But this time we decided to spend our time in NZ in a completely different way than the last time. First step: we didnt rent a car, we just depended on hitch hiking. We've heard from other backpackers that hitch hiking is really common in NZ as well as it is really save. So we decided to give it a try and if it is not working we just take the bus.
We arrived in Auckland late at night and the very next day our big hitch hiking adventure started. We were standing with a small "Bay of Islands" sign and heaps of fun in the middle of Auckland and tried to get a ride. And it worked out! 4 hours later we arrived in Paihia, a small and nice town in the Bay of Islands.
The weather was again not really good, so it rained a lot but we didn't care! On a boattrip we saw dolphines, the hole in the rock and on a stopp over on a small Island we discovered propably one of the most beautiful places in the world, I reckon! Manu and me immediately fell again in love with this amazing country, sometimes described as the most beautiful end of the world =)After a couple of days we decided to hitch hike back South and after a night in Auckland at Steve's place (a very nice guy who gave us a lift and invited us to stay at his place) we arrived in our new destination: Taumarunui! Again, a small village in the middle of nowhere, but not really far away from the Tongario National Park. But the real reason why we went there was cuz we wanted to visit Joel, a friend of us we met in Narry. He works in Taumuranui as sheap sharer and allowed us to visit him at the shed during work. Manu and me had the possibility to try for a couple of hours the work as woolhand.
Joel was so nice and lent us his car for a couple of days so Manu and me could visit the National Park and drive to a real Italian Pizzeria with real Italian Pizza. Thank you Joel, you were a great host!!! :)
On the 23th of December we had to leave Taumarunui to get to Hastings cuz a friend invited us to his place for Christmas. But before we went to his place, we stayed a night at another friends (Seth) place (as well sheap sharer, a friend from Narry) and we joined him to a sheap sharer party. A really funny get togheter with heaps of people from all over the world. I would say it was a really interesting party ... with really interesting people.... =) Thanks Seth, for showing us a different side of NZ!! =))
On the 24th in the afternoon we met up with Brad and Rob, two guys we met the last time in NZ in Whitianga. Manus and my plan was so far to spent Christmas Eve at the beach with a camp fire, heaps of Tequilla and some snags. But the guys had other plans, so Manu and me had to wait again for our first camp fire =). First of all we were driving to the Te Mata Peak and wow, the view was just stunning! You can see whole Hawkes Bay from there... breathtaking!! 10.000 pictures later we were driving back to Brads place, were Tequilla, vine and heaps of Marshmellows were waiting for us. We sang Christmas Songs with the guitarre (even if singing is the wrong word for our screaming), took a ride on Santas Sleigh and were drinking prosecco.
The next day the real Kiwi Christmas started. It is quite diffrent from what we know so far from back home... first of all: its summer and you are sitting outside in shorts and shirts. The whole familiy is coming togheter for the whole day and its all about eating!! And we have to say: the food is deliscous!!! So many different things and everything just incredible good!!It starts already with the breakfast: there are heaps of fruits, Croissants and Yogurth and again Prosecco (drinking is a big part of the Kiwi culture, maybe thats why we like the poeple over there so much... it reminds us of home =)). After the breakfast it is time for the presents! So much fun to watch kids unwrapping their gifts =) and even Manu and me got a present: chocolate!! But the bad thing on Christmas in the middle of summer is the fact, that you have to show yourself in a bikini at the beach after all that food. Manu und me were eating soooo much all day long, that we basically could roll around =). And after a short visit on the beach in the afternoon we came back to eat more for dinner =)) 
Just like described above we we spent 4 days at Brads place! Thanks to the whole familiy and especially Denise for everything!! And of course we would like to thank Brad and Rob for the invitation who were great hosts, too! :)
At the 28th it was time to say Goodbye to Hawkes Bay and go to Gisborne, because Manu and me were the proud owners of 2 tickets for the Rhythum & Vines Festival!!! Back on the road, Manu and me were really lucky again! We met Kaleb and Kane, 2 really funny guys from Palmerston North. We decided to stay at the same campground, which in the end was really good for Manu and me because we had absolutley no idea how to build up our tent =).We found a really nice place next to the beach and yessssss, finally we got our first campfire!!!! Cheers for that guys!! And thanks Kane for teaching us a new word: pins and needles =) Due to the fact that Manu and me were so exited about the campfire we decided to sleep on the beach that night (and waked up because of a tractor which was driving around us to clean the beach...)
The next day the adventure "Rhythum and Vines" starded!! First we spent the whole afternoon with Kaleb, Kane and their friends playing drinking games. I just have to say "gelato" =)). In the evening we finally went to the festival and wooooow, just impressive!! The whole atmosphere on this festival in the middle of a vineyard was awesome!! We had soooo much fun and the end of the night with Pendulum playing the song from the R&V trailer was perfect!!! Best festival we've ever been to!! The next day we had to say goodbye to Kaleb and Kane because they were celebrating New Years Eve in Taupo (funny, everyone we know so far was spending NYE in Taupo... =)). But we were really looking forward to the life acts Six60 and Calvin Harris!! And again, it was fucking awesome!!! The Kiwiband Six60 made such a great live performance... wow!! and for everybody who has no clue aobut six60: open now youtube and listen to the songs "dont forget your roots", "rise up" and "someone to be around"!! Im sure you'll love it!!
We really woult like to tell you as well something about New Years Eve.... but because our breakfast that day was Tequilla.... we have absolutely no idea what happend =) We've just heard that we sent some strange text mesagges and were wearing some funny shirts =)) But we met some really nice people: Katie, Jemma and Sean from Wellington! And they made it an unforgettable New Year's Eve! Thank you guys!!!!! We hope to see you someday again in Europe! :)
The beginning of the new year was the same as every year: HANGOVER!! after checking our pictures from the last night to have an idea what happend we decided to hitch hike to Taup, because Brad invited us again to stay at his uncle's place. And as soon as we heard that there is a swimming pool and a jacuzzi we were in.... just the fact that we could sleep in a real bed was reason enough to go there after spending 4 days in a tent without airbeds =)). After some really "funny" hours in the car with 5 guys who gave us a ride , we finally arrived, half - dead in Taupo. 
But as soon as we saw the mansion and the awesome view over lake Taupo we were fit again and had a great bbq with rocket salad and avos!! Thanks again Brad and Rob and Ben, Caitlin and Aidan!The next day we moved to a backpackers in Taupo because Brad's uncle came back. At the backpackers we had a lot of fun at the bar, drinking beer and cider and eating BP pies, probably the best pies in NZ. :)
After saying goodbye to Rob and Brad Manu and me took the bus to Wellington. In Wellington we finally had our first experience with couch surfing. We could stay at Mark's place in Porirua, a suburb of Wellington with some other backpackers. Thanks Mark, it was great to stay at your place!! In Wellington we also met Katie, Jemma and Sean again and they spent a whole day with us, showing us around! Thank you so much! After a night out in Wellington were we were on the piss with the three of them and their friends we had to leave Wellington to take the ferry to the South Island!
As there was only one day left, we didn't see a lot of the South Island. However, at least we made it to the South Island this time! =) After we arrived in Picton, we decided to hich hike to Christchurch, were we met Rob again!
A short stop in Kaikoura, which is probably one of the most beautiful places we have seen so far (again... ;) ) and four hours later we were in Christchurch were Scott, the guy who gave us a lift, drove us around to show us all the damages caused by the earthquake! It was really sad to see how destroyed this beautiful city was!The next morning we woke up by a little earthquake. Kind of creepy... Even if it was not too big! Anyways, our flight was at 8 in the morning so we had to leave the hostel to go to the airport! 3,5 hours later we were back in Sydney! As we had to get to Melbourne and the busses and flights were too expensive we rented a car and drove the same day all the 900 km to Melbourne. There the four of us were reunited again!
At the end we would like to thank all the people who helped and supported us in NZ:
- Steve: drove us outside of Auckland, offered us a sleeping place, invited us for bbq and drove us in the middle of the night through Franklin Road to see the Christmas decoration
- Shane: gave us a ride from Auckland to Whangarei
- Two people who drove us outside Whangarei (remember J. Keanen)
- The old guy who drove us from Whangarei to Paihia, with a short stop in Kawakawa to show us the Hundertwasser toilet and the train
- Shane (the garage man) who gave us a lift from Paihia to Whangarei
- Gerda and Roland Jakober from Tyrol who invited us to their mansion and offered us Macchiato and Stollen
- Chocolate lady from Scotland who invited us to her mansion and gave us chocolate and allowed us to use her pool
- Aaron who drove us from Whangarei to Auckland and showed us the beautiful East Coast and drove us straight to Steve's house
- The guy who drove us from Papakura city centre to a perfect hich hiking spot
- The strange nudist, who drove us to Hamilton
- The nice maori lady who drove us to Raglan and gave us some apple jucie
- The South African family who drove us from Raglan to Taumarunui and who gave us the tip with the Italian Restaurant
- MIKE, THE ARBORIST WHO PICKED US UP WHEN WE WERE SITTING NEXT TO THE STREET AND DESPRETELY WERE TRYING TO FIND JOEL
- The lady who hasn't seen anything of NZ so far who drove us from Taumarunui to Turangi
- The Scotsman who gave us a ride from Turangi to Taupo
- Witty, the old guy who drove us from Taupo to Hastings
- Old lady who drove us outside Napier and bought us straweberries and peaches because she was worried we don't eat enough
- The lady who gave us a ride from Napier to Wairoa
- Kane and Kaleb who took us to Gisborne, helped us with our tent and took care of us all the time
- Family from Hamilton who camped next to us for offering us a place to stay and for driving us outside of Gisborne
- The Maori, who drove us a little bit further
- The 5 crazy guys who gave us a really, really funny lift to Napier
- The Maori who drove us from Napier to Taupo and for offering us showing us around in Napier
- Guy who drove us from Picton to Blenheim
- Ella, the Australian girl who drove us from Blenheim to Kaikoura and who offered us her chips
- Scott, who drove us from Kaikoura to Christchurch, made a short earthquake tour with us and gave us his business card just in case we need to go to the West Coast
- And of course all the people we mentioned above!!!!
CHEERS GUYS, YOU ARE AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!
