That didn't seem like 25 hours of travel.

Nearby Mt. Eden is the volcanic core of Maungawhau
see all photos »

Train ride to JFK from Brooklyn was a mix of excitment and nerves.. a friend of mine, Sarah, helped carry my overweight bags to the G train and from there, I was on my own.

One word of advice: When travelling around the world.. pack light. It can make a big difference.

The flight was on Air Tahiti Nui and had a layover in Tahiti... uneventful airtime, but Tahiti should have been a longer layover for me.. it was 80 degrees and a perfect blue sky when the sun came up... next time!

View from the top
see all photos »

Surprisingly little jet lag once I arrived in Auckland. There was a bit of trouble with my camping gear... as there could be Biological matter in the tent and stuff. So, I had to wait  a bit for the things to be checked through.. but, I had finally arrived... so, no worries.

The locals are EXTREMELY friendly. I walked from Mt. Eden (Southern Suburb of Auckland) to the city center.. through small neighborhoods of shops. The most scenic parts are a tall volcanic hill in Mt. Eden (Name eludes me..) and a cemetery on Symonds St. in town... pictures later..

Skycity Centre, Auckland
see all photos »

Was gonna hike with my bags to the Skycity Center on Monday to catch my bus to Taupo.. but, that was a bit of a trek. More than 2 miles.. so, I caught a bus... and landed in Taupo 5 hours later..

My first impressions: A very European country with very English food. Sheep, Cows, and logging are abundant.. but the laid back nature of the people has been the most striking.

Good on ya, Cheers, Sweet-as...