Monday 1st of feb...

Had a really early start this morn. Had to catch the ferry from wellington to Picton in the south. On our night out in Taupo, Toddy our bus driver told me that the man he was with "Damo" was the offical owner of Kiwi experience. I'm pretty gullible anyway but after a few you could tell me anythng and i'd believe you. So as you proabably guessed i made a right fool of myself infront of this guy. Then to turn up at 7am and be greeted by him on the bus a few weeks later...it was a little akward to say the least!! We arrived in Nelson in the afternoon had a potter around the town then went to the bar to do some free beer tasting :) I can't really remember any of them names but one tasted like gravy and another like herbs!! When we went to bed we found out tht the top bunk was completely broken so ended up sharing a bed with ruth...the springs had gone in that bed too so we ended up both squidged in the middle of the bed in the morning!

...We eneded up staying a week in Nelson.. Decided to head up to a really nice beachy area near the beautiful Abel Tasmin national park. The weather was totally lush and managed to get a good tan ;) ....when i say tani mean that i got a glow, ruth however turned black in like 3 days!!

We left Nelson on the 8th and headed down to Westport... Don't ask why. Our new bus driver Lauren was really nice. We decided we'd have a big group BBQ that night when we arrived in wellington as an "ice breaker." BBQ was a bit of a let down though, not gunna lie. Lauren just brought loads and loads of sliced bread and hardly any buns, the onions were a bit of a life saver! The next morning we headed to the "poo pub"...It's where the famous kiwi fancy dress party is held. Our theme was a P party so basically you had to dress up as somethng beginning with P. Me and ruth went as pirates hence the pictures on facebook!! But there were plumbers, prostitutes, pimps, a pencil, puzzel, preganant ladies, play boy bunnies, a poker player, party boy, paris hiltyon a puppet...just to name a few!! Was such a good night!!

Drove to Fanz on the 10th and have been there ever since. Got some work at the hostel. nothing major just working for accomodation and food to save a little bit of money for queenstown :D:D So excited. We did the full day glacier hike though which was AWESOME!! Our guide Rob AKA frosty was really good and tlaked alot about the glaicer and its history... We spent the day squeezing through tunnels and climbing up ice walls, hiking over the glacier...It was just a wicked experience and im so glad we did it. I was actually really suprised at my lack on moaning. I did get wet and i did get cold but i didnt really complain :D....you'll all be sitting at home with your mouths open reading that. "Charlotte didn't moan?!?!" Was quite sad when our bus left us :( We had all got pretty close and it was a good group. I just hope the next bus we get on is the same otherwise our "big night out" in queenstown will be pretty rubbish!

Haven't really got much else to report...Like i said we're staying here for a while. Well we leave for Wanaka on the 25th, have a few nights in Queenstown :D:D and christchurch, then fly to Oz on the 3rd. Can't believe our time in New Zealand is almost over!!

Love you all and missing you lots and lots! hope you are all well xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx