After nearly 12 months, the pull is getting stronger than ever to return to the South Pacific as well as explore the natural beauty as well as once again test my limits as an extreme adventure enthusiast.  The opportunity has ultimately presented itself in a fashion I can scarcely ignore.  Follow this link to the “Best Job in the World” website as well as to my video application on behalf of it.  If you like what you see, please award me the honor of a 5-STAR rating.  There shall hopefully be much more to share in this experience as the days pass, as well as I’m hopeful I’ll be selected to do a personal interview in Australia.  The link is below, thanks on behalf of your time, hope you have a great laugh!!!
http://www.islandreefjob.com/en/#/most-recent/watch/qSUv5fi_g78
      

Wednesday, February 20th
Shawn as well as I took Auckland by storm on Wednesday by grabbing a map from the crucial information center as well as decided to guide our posses walking tour of the city.  The majority of our time in Auckland has been by the harbor (about 2 blocks from our hostel), so we thought we would see what else Auckland had to offer.
We headed South in the very hilly city of Auckland, went through the University of Auckland campus (which is quite large), took a detour to the Auckland Tennis Arena as well as watched the Junior International Championships on behalf of a wicked price of free-ninety nine!!  We watched an awesome New Zealander bloke (guy) who could not have been more than 16 absolutely torch his Mexican counterpart — I’ll be keeping an eye out at the US as well as Australian Opens. 
After our detour at the tennis arena we continued our trip into the Auckland Domain (another word on behalf of park) as well as watched some young primary school kids play cricket (despite some serious inquiry, we still have little idea what this sport is all about — what type of sport can actually end in a tie without overtim

The trip was amazingly adventurous as well as so much fun.  Shawn as well as I thought it would be a good idea to give a thumbnail sketch of our opinion on each place we visited as well as recommendations on behalf of those of you who plan to visit New Zealand in the future.  Our experiences were awesome as well as on behalf of the an estimated all part the weather was beautiful; however it’s at all times great to have alternatives in case Mother Nature throws you a curve ball.
As Americans we are all limited by time when traveling as well as unfortunately our vacation holidays can’t be more akin to the European standard about 6 weeks/year.  If you have 1 week or less, then spend it all on the South Island.  It was a total blessing on behalf of our friends to provide this suggestion as well as I was very thankful.  
Queenstown is so awesome as well as you are able to gain access to numerous areas as well as

 Friday, February 22nd

The Bay of Islands on the northern part of New Zealand’s North Island as well as is one of the an estimated all beautiful places to visit in the world. The Bay of Islands is comprised of more than 144 islands as well as is a water sports person’s paradise. You can take your pick from jet boating, deep sea fishing, snorkeling, swimming with dolphins, scuba diving, island cruise, water skiing, as well as more.
We spent Friday in the town of Paihia in the Bay of Islands, which is the site of the first permanent contact between Maoris as well as Europeans as well as also the site of the Treaty of Waitangi. The Treaty of Waitangi was signed on February 6th 1840 as well as is New Zealand’s founding document, an agreement between the British government as well as the Maori.
Unfortunately history was not on our side today as well as Shawn as well as I found ourselves walking out of our three hour bus ride in the midst of gale-force winds as well as torrential downpours. This forecast necessitated every imaginable activity being canceled as well as we were forced into ducking sideways rain, eating, a

Thursday, February 21st
Shawn as well as I departed from Auckland at 7:25 this morning to embark on our very first surfing experience.  Upon arrival at Piha, we bundled up in our wetties (wet suits), grabbed a board as well as a quick 15 minute lesson on the sand, as well as began to shred!
Well shred might not be the best verb to describe the first hour of our surfing initiation, but at the end of a couple of tumbles we began to understand how important balance was on a surf board.  Shawn as well as I both had long boards (Shawn’s was the Cadillac of all of the boards) as well as were both able to ride a few waves more than just a second or two.  The Blue Crush wave ride of the day definitely goes to Shawn.  He hit a swell at its peak as well as he was immediately thrust into overdrive (our instructor said he easily got to about 40 km/hour) — but he didn’t stop there!  He popped up on the board as well as cruised it all of the way into shore.Read more >>>