You can, somewhere in the middle of the north island, find a place called Whakahoro. Outside of Whakahoro, in the middle of nowhere, is a place called the blue duck station. The blueduck station is a lodge, cafe and tourism company that is trying to get some of the native bird life and bush back to the area. Here is one of the few places in New Zealand where you can find the blue duck. They are, exactly what the name suggests, blue ducks. They are actually pretty cool because they've got lips on the end of their beaks. The blue ducks are endangered and they need very special conditions to survive, luckily the blueduck station has everything they need. 

 

After a few days with a lot of fun in Taupo, I got picked up by the stray bus (an hour to late) to go to the blueduck station. The drivers name was Leftie, because he would leave you behind if you were to late. The funny part about this is that he was always the one being late. Anyhow, we drove to the blueduck station, on the most beautiful, windy roads with views from heaven. We got a really good bbq in the evening before it was time to sleep, unfortunately in a top bunk. Top bunks are the devils idea, I'm pretty sure about that. 

 

The day after, after waking up 2 millimetres from the edge of the bed, we took a walk to the waterfall to try spotting some blue ducks. We failed. Blue ducks are really good at hiding, they look like rocks since they are dark blue/grey ish. But the way there was exciting, very muddy, very sunny and very beautiful. I am surprised that no one fell of the edge of the road, since it was really slippery. I'm glad no one did though, I don't want to attend a funeral in New Zealand, or anywhere else for that matter.

 

We slept one more night at the blueduck station, in the top bunk from hell, before it was time to leave for Tongariro National Park. A tree had fallen on to the road and we had to get out of the bus and brake a few branches to be able to continue. A few months before, there was a big landslide and the bus had to stay at the station for a few days before they had removed all the trees and mud from the road, I'm happy we didn't have to experience that.

 

All of the group, except for me and two others, did the Tongariro crossing, I had already done it and the weather wasn't good enough to do it again. We tried the hot tubs when everybody came back and had a super cozy night with tea and talks.

 

The beds at this hostels were a lot better and I got a BOTTOM BUNK! That is pure happines!