Climbing up Mt. Ngauruhoe

The team (from left to right): Rayon, Phil, Mishi, Jose & Sylvia

Con Rito y Milita en la Isla Norte

First day in the Coromandel

After a maori performance in Whakarewarewa

Relaxing in some hot pools near Taupo

Looking for Paua...

Getting ready for a day looking for Paua at Flat Point. (Both of us together with Jackson, Mishi and Beata)

Riversdale, awesome spot to chill out after a morning in the water

Biggest ice cream ever in Masterton, on our way home

The Paua with some garlic, ginger and a little bit of pepper...soo good!

Best spot to camp out ever!!

trying our brand new BBQ on the beach...somewhere north of Wainui

6:30 sunrise

I'm on a boat!

We went on a boat cruise around Gisborne's harbour, on one of the oldest boats in town!! It had been recently restored, and the guys in charge were a couple of old men who were very happy to show us the best spots around and tell us about the place. The weather was brilliant, so we had a very good time...couldn't see any dolphins though :-(

Gisborne

The Cook Landing Site Historic Reserve on Gisborne's seafront marks the place where Captain James Cook first set foot on New Zealand soil in October 1769. This little guy in the picture is Nick Young, the son of the surgeon, he was the first one to see land.

Gisborne is the first city in New Zealand to see the sun every day.

Bye bye snow season!

Sunday 20th Sept at Turoa Ski field

The Caccia Birch house

A little bit of history here in Palmerston North: the Caccia Birch House was built in 1895 (and that means "very old" here in New Zealand) for a Scandinavian family. Several families lived there for years and it was used by the army and the university later on. It is now property of the Palmerston North City Council and it is available for use by the whole community. The best part: it's only 5 mins. away from our place :-)

Spring is here!!

Surf Mission 23/08

Sunset at Waiinu Beach

A Perfect Right Hander

8th Aug. Wharite Peak

View of the Manawatu from Wharite Peak

Esterilla's attempt

Up on the board...

and...plaff! :-(

Muac Hut Rules: Stairs-Traverse challenge

Ester

Jackson

Phil

Erich

Another crazy weekend up at mt.Ruapehu saw the establishment of the Muac Hut Rules. Here is the first one: The Stairs Traverse Challenge!

King and Queen of Spain visit New Zealand

Spain and New Zealand have been somehow connected in the past weeks, and not only because we scored 5 goals against the all whites in the confederations cup ;-), but also because the King of Spain has come here to open the Spanish Embassy in Wellington. A new agreement between the two countries will allow young spaniards to benefit from the working holiday visa scheme.

Palmerston North from the air

Palmerston North!! The heart and soul of the Manawatu region and also the place we call home (sweet home). On this picture our house is somewhere on the top right, close to the river. Around 80,000 people live here. Of those, a significant percentage are students at Massey University who come from everywhere around the country and overseas and have made of this place one of the most important student cities in the country. We all call this place "Palmy".

In case you were wandering...yes, there is a Palmerston (south). The city was initially named Palmerston, but then the word "north" was added to differentiate it from the town of Palmerston in the south island.

Longview Hut Track

The track is on the Eastern Ruahine Forest Park, quite steep, but only 3 hours long.
Nice for a day trip.

Snowboarding in Turoa, Mt.Ruapehu

Not bad for a first timer, is it?

Castle Point on a stormy day

Gustly winds, rain, hail and massive waves (5m swell) last sunday at Castle Point.

Bruno's farewell. Muac Hut

We spent last weekend at the Muac Hut, below Torua skifield on Mount Ruapehu, around two hours away from Palmy. The hut can accommodate around 30 people in hut style bunks. It's got flush toilets, hot showers, kitchen, coal fire, and lighting...luxury!!

Together with other 25 people we celebrated Bruno's farewell party with a pot-luck (which included an awesome Swiss fondue), slacklining and other ready-made crazy indoor sports...

On Sunday, Phil went up to the summit of Mount Ruapehu (2,797m) together with Erich, and I joined most of the others on a day walk to lake Surprise, a 4 hours walk which is part of the Round the Mountain track.

Mañolandia invade la Isla Norte

Relajación mental de camino a Wellington 12/04

Castle Point 11/04

Tongariro Crossing 10/04

Wai-O-Tapu thermal valley 9/04

Rotorua

Caromandel peninsula 6-8/04