Rangitoto... I finally looked into a volcano!

So, I look at Rangitoto all the time from Auckland City. It is the city's youngest and largest volcano. (Auckland has about 50 in total) ...And today, me and my friend Laura hiked it! (Sweet As! That's Kiwi for "cool")
This is Laura, or as I like to call her, Lady Lala

Volcanic rock crumbles everywhere...


This is a lava cave, and Laura made me go in it!
Lala! Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Creepy and awesome!
The summit, this is the top of a volcano. Also called the crater! Rad!

View of the city from the top~!

P.S. Here is a map of the volcanoes that surround me! Crazy! They are literally what formed and shape Auckland. (Rangitoto is at the top!)

GAGA AKL

I put on my bow, my PNKC dress for good vibes, and my new tutu... and its Gaga time...
It started with a shadow-
And in no exact order.... the crazy costumes began... I only have a few pics and they do absolutely NO justice for the show, but hey its a peek! Here she is in a full on costume that resembled a flat mop:
You can see her piano starting to burn as she played 2 ballads and sang her heart out...
Giant monster puppet- looked like one of those deep sea fishes with spider legs that her dancers moved around!!

Here she plays what looks like a wacky 80s guitar, buts its actually a keyboard set to a guitar sound!!!
Gaga in the crowd on a catwalk...
This was an animatronic dress that moved and she rose up on this platform- great view for the crowd...

This is the monsterball costume that looks like orbiting rings around Gaga

ABEL TASMAN COSTAL TRACK!!!!!!

AMAZING!!!!!!! This is a trek of a lifetime. So beautiful, I want to come back and camp for 3 or 4 days... I did this in one day, and it was so stunning. One of the most beautiful places in NZ and perhaps the world!

Waiting at the beach for the water taxi to take me to the costal track!

Split Apple Rock!!
Woods

Cool mossy rocks in the bush of Abel Tasman:

A crazy tall tree:
Cool hollow tree along the trek:
Beautiful...

The tiny beach I stopped at for a picnic lunch (it was high tide, so the beach was small, but I took a swim around the rocks, and acted like a mermaid for a moment!)

Beach, rocks, water...

Even at this distance you can see how crystal clear the waters are!!! Incredible!

Swing Bridge!! Woah!

Looking down from the swing bridge!!

Me crossing the swing bridge!!!

Japanese Gardens- Top Spot in Nelson!

The Japanese Gardens were my favorite discovery in Nelson! So beautiful, peaceful and really fun to walk around all of the different paths and ponds, etc.
Stone path (looks like a greeting card!)
Cool zigzag path:

Yin Yang lawn:

Self portrait with iPhone shadow:

Random Bits of Nelson:

Ginger, the WWOOFer mascot:

This cow that has Australia/NZ spots!!


Tasman!
Arnold:
Cecilia and the famous Tasman Bay Chocolate Pudding!!!
Swiss Chris comes to visit- and refuses to make a normal face! ;)
Jon and his gourmet meals!!!
Prisci my hilarious French friend!
And the Nelson sunset- so lovely, my iPhone doesn't capture it!
Plus this strange orange plant...
Self Portraits at the Beach:

I look happy, because I am! The beach is like heaven for me!!

Fireworks at the Opera in the Park (Which was wonderful and free)!!