Hey everyone!!

Hope you are all well, and yet again apologies for the delay in keeping this up to date!!

Soooooo, last time I wrote, I had just completed my epic bungy jump, which brings us swiftly to...

18th June
Had a big of a lie-in today as I was slightly struggling from a big night out the night before!! However, when in Queenstown, you have the best hangover cure right on your dorrstep... Fergburger!! They do the most amaizng burgers which are huge and sooooo good!! I headed down with Michel, Dominik, Lucy and Angele and we all enjoyed a Ferg while sat in the sun!! We all struggled to finish it, the last few bites were painful but we all defeated it!! In the afternoon, Lucy and I headed up to the local rugby pitch to watch the local team play a nearby town!! We had met some of the visiting team the night before, but unfortunately they lost!! In the evening, we all had a group dinner and then headed out for another good night!!

19th June
Today half of our group headed out to Milford Sounds, so myself, Lucy, Mali and Julie had a lazy day in the apartment!! We were very lucky as we were booked into the cheapest place in town but it was lovely!! There were 4 6bed dorms which were arranged around an apartment with a shared kitchen and lounge!! Definitely a step up from the usual accommodation we have!! Lucy and I made everyone a roast dinner, which went down very well!! We had a good laugh cooking the meat though, as we got told by the butchers to boil it first, but it all worked out well!! We decided to have a chilled out night in as 4 of the group were leaving to head up to Christchurch the next day, so we spent the evening playing cards!!

20th June
Today, me and Mali headed out on our Bottom Bus tour!! We got picked up nice and early (after a lovely skype session with the rents!!) by our driver Ron!! It was about a 4 hour bus ride to Dunedin, which had some amazing views!! We stopped off at a cute cafe for lunch and had a nice toastie to keep warm!! Once we got into Dunedin, we stopped off at the worlds steepest road, Baldwin Street!! The boys decided to run up it, however, I offered to stay at the bottom to take pictures for them!! Once we checked into our hostel, most of us then headed to the Speights Brewery Tour!! Speights is the 'taste of the south' and has always been brewed in Dunedin!! The tour was quite interesting, with info about the brewing process and the history of Speights, and then of course the tasting of their beers!!

21st June
We got a new bus driver this morning, Brian who was taking us to Invercargill!! Again it was probably only 4 hour drive, however today we had plenty of stops along the way!! Our first stop was at Nuggets Point!! We walked a short way to the edge of the point looking out towards South America (couldn't quite spot it though!!) and saw a few small seals on the rocks below!! We then headed to Cannibul Bay, which we walked along and then over some sand dunes and along the nearby beach!! Here we saw what we had been looking for-- wild sea lions!! We were lucky enough to see 5, 4 of which were reasonably close!! The first 3 came out of the water one at a time and it was amazing to see the 2 males size each other up to impress the female!! While we were busy watching these, another even bigger male came down from the sand dunes behind us!! Lucky it was a good 30m away and they didn't seem bothered by us but they were absolutely huge!! In the afternoon, we stopped at a beautiful waterfall which had 3 tiers and luckily had plenty of water running down it!! Our final stop was at Curio Bay where we got to see Yellow-eyed Penguins!! We got to see 2 stood on the rocks and they were so cute!! We finally arrived in Invercargill in the evening, but unfortunately it was already dark so we didn't see much of the city!!

22nd June
Today we headed out of Invercargill in the dark again, and changed buses to join up with more Kiwi Ex people to head down to Milford Sound!! Lucy was on this bus so had a good catch up with her!! It was a long journey to Milford however, the views more than made up for it!! We also went past the Mirror Lakes, which are so still and black that they give a perfect mirror reflection!! Once we got to Milford, we jumped on a boat and headed out towards the ocean!! On the way out, we all took full advantage of the buffet, which was delicious!! On the way back, myself, Lucy and Rich (who was also on the bottom bus) headed up to the top deck to get some awesome pictures and test our geography knowledge (not great as it turns out!!)!! We passed an amazing waterfall which was the equivalent of 50 storeys high!! We then stopped off at an underwater place, where we could go down about 15m and look at all the sea life!! There were some amazing fish and even some starfish!! After the long journey back to Queenstown, we headed out for an amazing chicken dinner as it was Lucy's last night :(

23rd June
Had a lazy day today and met our new room mates and some of their friends!! We all ended up having dinner together with the boys cooking a spag bol!! Turned out our room-mates had been on Rich's previous bus so he also came over for dinner!! We then decided to go out and two girls who I had also previously met, Lexi and JD, came over for pre-drinks as well!! We ended up having the funniest night we have had in NZ, going to a few of the bars in town!! Unfortunately, it was a couple of the lads and JD's last night but it was one to remember!!

24th June
There were a few sore heads this morning and certainly didn't envy those who had to get on the bus!! James, Andy, Jen and Lily also moved into our apartment so I spent the day with them, first heading out for a Ferg, which this time I struggled to finish!! We then had a nice walk along the lake front and around the frisby golf course (more about that later!!) before reachign the ice rink!! We headed inside just to check prices but they were playing the movie Mighty Ducks on the tv infront of a fire, so we soon settled into the sofas to watch it!! In the evening, we all headed down to the town as it was the start of Winterfest!! We sat on the beach and watched the fireworks, before heading over to the main stage and enjoying some mulled wine!! A few of us then headed inside to a pub with a fire for a few games of pool!!

25th June
This morning, Lexi and I went down to watch the boys play frisby golf!! There is an 18 hole course set out with baskets to get the frisbys in instead of a hole!! The boys were pretty good to be fair, and Lexi and I were hooked!! Once they had finished, we had a ncie wander around the craft market before we went to buy our own frisbys!! It was a job taken very seriously and by the afternoon we were ready to show the boys how to play properly!! Unfortunately, we talked the talk but stumbled big time on the walk!! The boys were hitting in the 70s and Mark even got 69, but Lexi and I both hit triple figures!! Whoops!! We had now moved into a slightly more luxury apartment as everywhere was booked for Winterfest so enjoyed a nice chill out evening infront of the tv after an amazing curry dinner cooked by some of the lads!!

26th June
This morning, we were up reasonably early to get a game of frisby golf in!! I managed, somehow, to do even worse than the day before but it was good fun!! The reason for our rush was that Lexi and I were checked in to do a canyon swing at 2pm!! Mali came with us to get some pictures and by 2.30pm we were up on the ledge!! The canyon swing is kind of like a bungy but you can jump of the ledge in many different ways and instead of bouncing up and down, you swing back and forth through the canyon!! For our first jump, Lexi and I decided to do a tandom jump backwards!! It was pretty scary as we both had to commit to the jump!! It doesn't help that the instructors really play with your head as well!! Our video is very funny though and it was so much fun once we jumped!! Needless to say the adrenaline was going so we were soon back for our second jump!! This time we went separately and I decided to do an upside down one where I was suspended upside down and then they just let you go!! It was an amazing view of the canyon but because there wasn't that much suspence compared to the other one, it wasn't quite as fun!! soooo, there was only one thing to do... another swing!! This time I decided to flip off the ledge, which is great for me who can't flip as I have about 100m to manage to flip!! I also wimped out on this one and asked just to do a straight jump but the guy said he had roped me up to do a flip and I couldn't change!! So I flipped!! And it was awesome, by far the best... especially when I came up and the instructor told me that they rope every jump up the same way!!!! We went out in the evening with everyone as mark had a friend up from Wanaka and had a good night!!

27th June
Met up with Mali, Lexi and Bexx this morning for a girly coffee before attempting to gain some dignity in frisby golf!! I didn't quite get under triple figures but finally got a new PB!!! It was one of the Adam's last night so we headed to Ferg for a final burger before heading out for a night out!! It was also James' last night so was gutted to say goodbye to him, but had a good night out with him, Bexx and Andy!!

28th June
This morning, Mali, Lexi, Mark, Adam and I headed out for a road trip to Dunedin!! We checked out of the hostel while the boys went and got our car!! We got a cute 8 seater which we soon named Eleanor!! Lexi had built up a brilliant playlist with Queenstown tunes on it so we soon had the music going!! The first hour drive was amazing scenery so were stopping quite regularly!! We stopped for lunch in a small town and found a little 'Bafe' which is basically a cross between a bakery and cafe!! We got to write a message each on the wall, which every customer does!! We finally arrived in Dunedin and found a nice holiday park and got an apartment to ourselves!! We spent the first night lazying on the sofa with our duvets and trashy tv!!

29th June
Our first stop this morning was Baldwin Street and this time we all climbed it, plus got the certificate to prove it!! It was hard work but the view of Dunedin made it worth it!! We then headed into town to go to Cadbury World!! It was a pretty good tour with plenty of free chocolate including a small pot of melted chocolate!! We seemed to be like a proper family with Adam doing most of the driving and being Dad, mali playing Mum and Mark, Leci and I winding each other up in the back of the car playing the kids!! Very funny, especially as Lexi and I started ganging up on Mark for pranks!!

30th June
We got up at a decent time this morning and headed into town to have a look around and actually see Dunedin!! We bumped into Kat, Caz and Katie who I met on the East As tour which was cool!! After a few hours of wandering, we headed to a cinema to watch Transformers 3, which was amazing!! In the evening, we decided to go and find glow-worms which were nearby the accommodation!! Only downside was that it was pitch black in a forest and Mark's torch kept cutting out!! very glad to get back to the room but the glow-worms were pretty good!! Another lazy night infront of the tv with duvets!!

1st July
Today we headed back to Queenstown!! We had another quick stop in Dunedin town to do last minute shopping, before the long journey home!! Again we had beautiful views so we got a few picture stops!! In the evening, we headed out into town!! It was a really good night and a nice end to a wicked road trip!!

2nd July
Our last day in Queenstown so we spent it getting some gifts and walking up to the view point!! Well Lexi and I were walking slightly behind the boys and lost them so we thought we reached the viewpoint!! Turns out the boys walked loads further and still didn't reach it!! Still got an amazing view of Queenstown!! In the evening, Lexi Mark and I attempted one last game of frisby golf but it got too dark so we stopped after hole 5!! Gutted as I was actually doing well!!

3rd July
Up early for the bus up to Kaikoura today!! Said goodbye to Mali as she was flying out of Q-town the next day!! It was a 12 hour journey all the way up Kaikoura so tried to sleep most of the way!! Had to say goodbye to Mark in Christchurch as well- goodbyes are starting to get annoying now :( Had an early night once we finally arrived in Kaikoura as me, Lexi and Bexx were all shattered!!

4th July
Got up to skype home this morning!! Once I finished, had breakfast with the girls before we headed into town!! lexi and Bexx wanted to go whale watching so we headed out to there!! I decided not to do it so headed back to the accommodation and sorted out some accommodation for us all for the next few nights!! When they came back they said they had an amazing time and saw 6 whales!! Some of the pictures were brilliant and luckily they had a good day for it!! In the evening, we curled up on the sofa with fish and chips watching Bridget Jones!! We also met 2 Scottish girls who were on our bus but we heading around the south island!! They were really ncie and turns out will be arriving in Fiji just before I leave so will hopefully catch up with them again then!!

5th July
Early start of 7.25am to make the 10.30am ferry crossing, however soon after we headed off we stopped at a seal colony!! We were only about 10m off the road before we spotted 6 seals playing in the river!! as we headed further up the river to a waterfall we saw about 20/30 all playing in the water!! They were so cute and looked as though they were showing off!! The ferry journey over to Wellington was pretty uneventful and slightly rocky so I spent most of it asleep!! In the afternoon, we had a wander around Wellington as I hadn't really seen it before!! It was nice to wander around but didn't have the wow factor for me!! Bexx has got an interview at a gym there so we found that as well!! In the evening, we went down to the bar with one of the guys Lexi met along the Kiwi journey, but is at uni in Wellington!! We managed to win a relay race and won 2 free nights accommodation plus some drinks so were very happy!! Apparently people felt a 6.5 earthquke while we were wandering around the city, although the epic-centre was nearer Taupo!! We didn't feel it though :(

Anyway, thats about all for now, up in taupo today after another goodbye to Bexx :( heading up to Auckland tomorrow though to catch up with Lou from East As trip and Lexi is flying out the same time as me on Monday so that could be an emotional day!!

Sending lots of travelling love

xxxx