So we took the ferry from Wellington to Picton to get to the South Island. That's Cook Strait. Weather wasn't too good. Othewise I would have some pics of Marlborough Sounds to show you. Views supposed to be fab, maybe we will get better weather on the way back.

So we met our bus in Picton to begin our bus tour around the South Island. That took us to Nelson where we spent the next few days. Wasn't my favourite hostel. It was a strange one. Some people seemed to be actually living there. The crusty types with manky dreads. Sorry if I've insulted anyone but I hate those smelly looking dreads. Haven't seen that so much at the rest of the hostels I've been too so I'm convinced these were living there!

We did the Abel Tasman National Park Hike the day after, Weds. Those photos have been up for a while. Very lovely place, it's a National Park. We got a boat out and had to hike back then. Supposed to be a 4 hour hike through the bush but we are so fit we did it in 3.5! Wow. As you can see the views were magnificent. Lots of scenery photos for ye to enjoy!

We hung around Nelson an extra day as it's supposed to be the 2nd sunniest place in NZ so me & Karen thought we'd work on our tan. Of course the weather was rubbish. But what harm. We met a girl there, Amanda, from Nottingham, who we were with for the rest of our South Island trip.

So here is an interesting LOTR fact. There is a Jewellers in Nelson, called Jans Hensen and they are the people that desigined & made the actual rings used for the movies. They made about 40. The ring used for the close ups is about 8inches in diameter, not real gold and has no ensribing (is that the right word?) on it. The writing was added in by special affects. This ring is on display at the WOW museum but that was too far out for me to visit. But I got a brochure!

I'm going to go for now. Hope you are all still awake after reading this! For those who have tried to force me to join facebook....I'm still using old fashioned phone and email...it will never happen, this will have to do ye instead!

Ciao for now!x