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 to do we went to the pools anyway. It was raining a little but we were nice and warm in the pool - 41'c. Kaikoura: Drove from Hanmer to Kaikoura with Lorna again. Nice drive. Lots of snowy mountains to look at. Checked into a really nice hostel, Dusky Lodge. It has a pool, spa, sauna, free breakfast, and the best bit, at 5pm the bakery next doors brings all the left over cakes!! Yum yum. There is also a Thai restuarant down stairs. Nice! We checked out the town, very cute little town. It reminds me of a little seaside town in england. Booked our Swim with the Dolphins. We go tomorrow at 12.30pm! yippee Tuesday: Got up and had a swim in the pool and then a soak in the hot tub. I could get used to this, might have to invest in a hot tub when I get home! Went swimming with the Dolphins. It was totally amazing. I have swam with the Dolphins before, but they were tame ones and there was only 4 of them. We saw packs of 300 - 400 Dolphins. And the boat dropped us off where they were swimming. I looked down into the sea with my snorkle and mask and I could see about 20 below me. Some of them brushed pass but we were told not to touch them. I was really exciting but I was also a bit scared incase one of them decided they didn't like me and bit my bum or something. Lucky, there was no bitting on this trip. We got to jump out of the boat about 4 times. It was brilliant! Would love to do it again. The boat ride on the way out and in to sea was SOOOO rough. We were all having to hold on so tight because the boat was going up about 5 - 10 meters in the air and then slamming back down on the waves. But the time we got back to dry land half of the boat had been sick, and yes, I was one of them. I never get sea sick but my god, i have never been on a boat so rough. It was all worth it though as the Dolphins were great. As we went back in we could see them all swimming and they were all jumpping out of the water doing twist and turns, it was as if there were doing a little show, but they were just having fun. The company that took as don't do anything to encourage the Dolphins to us, they are complete wild and it is all at their own free will. Because of all the excitement I didn't notice the coldness of the sea, the wetsuits that we were given were good. But once I got back to the hostel I jumped in the hot tub to warm up (with a glass of wine of course). All chilled out round the hostel. Alan and Lorna have "got it on" so I left them too it. Ended up playing drinking games with the America group. Wednesday: Hired the bikes out today. Great value, NZ$5 for the whole day. We drove up the coast to the Seal Colony. They were just wandering around the bay, you can get up close to them. About 2 meters away. They were all very cute. Had a little walk up the cliffs, checked out the view. After that we cycled down the road to the farm and watch the farmer sheer the sheep. The he gave as a talk about all the different sheep and wool etc in NZ. He was a really nice man. He told me that every year when the baby lambs were born he would let his daughters keep one each as a pet. Then once the lambs were about 6 months old he had to send the lambs off to be slaughtered, but he used to tell his kids that they had gone up to the field with the other sheep. Bless. They are teenagers now so he doen't get away with that story anymore :) Leaving tomorrow morning on the Magic Bus again. Off to Picton......