An emotional 2 days just passed. Firstly saying goodbye to Queenstown which had started to feel like hone funnily enough even though I didn't feel a homely connection. This is the last time I will see Linda an Jess at least for a very long time. Then last night after our slightly longer than usual bus ride to Christchurch (slight engine malfunction after my spinach an cream cheese fritter at Cromwell half an hour in) nancy bid farewell as she flies to Melbourne! ...

Stopped in Christchurch for 2 nights but only was it in the dark. The people in the hostel were good for conversation and the lounge was a proper homely lounge!The city was in a state and looking back it was on a similar scale to rebuilding cities after the war. But the Kiwis are taking the opportunity to show their mega ingenuity and designs, such as shopping malls made from containers... Food: I made my beetroot pasta bake here! PS it is not my photo and I a...

Good vibrations!!!!! Buzz buzz buzz all day! Woke up and chatted with Yorky Rory over museli, discussing comparative nut and fruit content of 'Budget' and 'Pams'. This is going somewhere... I told him about my planned day of returning my non waterproof boots, camera collecting, farewell bidding, hostel moving, hang gliding and possible skateboard buying (only the last I didn't do to combat DOC's extortionate hut rates... and the guy's house was too far away fo...

Review of a knackering weekend. After a marvellous night's sleep in my first ever YHA including free wifi (even if i did fall asleep before I could use it properly...) I set out on my 60+km "tramp" - fundamentally a trek in New Zealand but more expensive and with fewer facilities. This was the Kepler Track (since the Milford Track is completely full most of the time due to hut capacities) and its the most easily accessible. I later learned that Bear Grylls has re...

Stopped in Queenstown and had a ball, enjoyed street wifi on the beach, a hill climb, fun nights out and golf frisbee!