Well I finally had a major energy crash in Christchurch after 6 weeks on the go. Can't believe I've been away so long already! Spent my last time in New Zealand doing a wee tour of Christchurch on the tram and randomly there appeared to be a pipe band competition on in the main square yesterday. Half a dozen bands all playing different tunes at the same time is not pretty! Flew out to Melbourne yesterday. The very rubbish travel agent had decided that rather than...

Well there was a bit of an event leaving Wellington as we'd been out very late the night before and I slept in. When I got down to reception I'd forgotten my pillow case so couldn't check out and had to go back to the room. On my return the bus had left for the ferry! It was still only 6.45am so plenty time for the 5 min taxi ride there but one of the girls thought she was being very useful putting my bags on the bus. Not a problem for the food and inconvenient f...

So... left Auckland on my bus journey on Saturday morning. After fially picking everyone up we had a quick stop at the top of Mount Eden to get views of the city and then set off to the Cormorandel Peninsula to Hahai where we were staying for the night. We wee on a campsite but in our own hostel and it had a stunning beach. Having been super careful so far not to be burned I let myself sit out in the sun twice for half an hour each time, with sunscreen - and I go...

Arrived in New Zealand and after extensive time going through customs (nearly worse than the US) and declaring my shell bracelet that I made which I was miraculously allowed to keep I made it out the airport! Decided now is the time to start being a proper backpacker so got the shuttle bus as opposed to a taxi. Just as well as it took forever to get into Auckland, every set of traffic lights seemed to be out. Hostel is very different to what I've been in before...

So I left LA on Monday and arived in Fiji, 10 hours later on the Wednesday - how weird is that! Stupidly didn't think about the weather conditions when I left LA so arrived in jeans, a lond sleeved top and a hoodie and just about passed out! Taken by bus to a beautiful marina where we took a 2 hour boat ride across to Waya Island and Octopus Resort. Talk about Paradise!!! (thanks for the advice Katie!) So after a welcome from the staff singing to us on the beach ...