Bay of Islands is a lovely place, even better that the sun is shining. Alans birthday so he chose to go Quad Biking. Great trip. I was being careful and going at a steady spead, glad I did as one of the other girls ended up going of the track and ended up in the ditch. She must have fallen down about 6m. Bless her, she was ok. In the evening went to a nice fish restaurant and then back to the hostel for more drinks and partying.

Up early again today. Going up to Mount Maunganui. Stopping off at Taupo and Rotorua on the way. I would have liked to stayed in Rotorua again for one night as tonight England is playing rugby here (Lions Tour). All tickets and hostels have sold out so we have to just pass through. Bet it will be a great atomosphere. My friend Emma (irish girls from S/America) is here and going tonight. When we got to Rotorua is was mental. English, Irish, Scotts and ...

Had to get up at 7am and after yesterdays drinking session my head was finding it hard to lift it off the pillow! Got the Fun Bus to Napier today. Sleeped loads on the coach and then once in Napier all I could be bothered to do was have a quick walk round town then head back to the hostel. It is so cold here. We was lucky we left the South Island as they are now having a lot of snow down there. Early night tonight!

Once we got to Picton we went on a Wine Tasting Tour in through the Marlborough Sounds. 60% of NZ wine is produced here. Great little tour, only half day though. They were very generous with the wine samples. The first vine yard gave us 9 glasses. Need I say I was half drunk when I left there! I am ok on the red but it is the white that gets me smashed. At the 3rd vine yard we also got to try different olive oils - there was a Lime one and it was soooo ni...

Hanmer Springs: Headed off to Hanmer on Sunday morning. Hayleys friend Lorna was driving in the same direction so we decided to go with her and give the Magic Bus a miss, we can always catch it at the next stop. Once we got there the weather turned horrible. Couldy and trying to rain. The main attraction to Hanmer Springs is the Thermal Pools. They have heated pools, about 8 different pools, even a water slide. All outside. So as there was nothing else t...