Jem had a great 31st Birthday, it got off to a good start when Chris made us bacon butties. We then met our friends Dean and Michelle for a bite to eat and they gave Jem some Rocklea Road which is basically marshmellow and nuts covered in chocolate - a really ozzie thing and delicious! We then went for a few scooners at Beach Road, said our goodbyes (boo hoo!) and then had a gorgeous meal back at Chris's flat with a nice bottle of Rockford Basket Press Shiraz - perfect! Later I spoke to my little sis which was great to catch up, I miss her so much and it's nice to hear her voice.

Arrived in Auckland, City of Sails, yesterday and checked into Auckland International YHA. haven't stayed in any YHA's yet but really impressed with standard of facilities and the dorms. Shared with two Norweign girls (one of which talked in her sleep all night which was quite funny!). Had a chilled night, walked to Karangahape Road (or K'Rd as it's known) to check out the Asian supermarket and ended up cooking a firey Thai green curry and noodles.

Today we've had a look round Auckland, not much to see really but we're excited about visiting the rest of New Zealand. In the city centre there is basically on main street called Queen Street, which we walked down and from there we walked along the harbour, through the park to the Victoria Park Market to visit the food hall, only to find out that it's only open at the weekend! From here Jem went back to the hostel to read and I got on the link bus (for the bargain price of $1.60) which takes you round the main parts of Auckland including Parnell, the oldest suburb in Auckland, St Mary's Church which is a wooden Gothic church built in 1886, Holy Trinity Cathedral which has lovely stained glass windows and is very cute, cool village shops and cafes, Newmarket, shopping central, past the lion brewery, Auckland Domain (park), Library, Sky Tower which at 328 metres high is the tallest structure in the southern hemisphere, the University and Town Hall.

Tomorrow we begin our Magic Bus (hop on hop off bus) to Waitomo to visit the glowworm caves and we stay the night there. So I'll le you know how we get on. Bye for now xxx