What an early start!!! Was up mega early to get organised. Left the house at 6.15 and headed down to get the shuttle bus to the airport. Could barely keep my eyes open!! Once at the airport I got checked in then met Felicity, whose fab. The flight went so quickly, watched a film etc. We arrived in Christchurch about 2.15pm, they are 2 hours ahead of Australia, boarded the shuttle bus to the hotel and chilled for a bit before we had to meet the rest of the guys doing the tour at 6.30. Theres 48 of us on the tour so lots of peoples names to remember and get to know. We had dinner and got to know each other a bit more, theres people from all over, im the only Scot and they are all expecting me to live up to the Scottish stereotype and drink lots ahhhhhh!!! Its loads colder here than Australia so was nice to have a cosy duvet and there was even an electric blanket haha, I found that highly amusing!!!!

The following morning we had breakfast then spent a bit of time in Christchurch before driving around in the bus looking at various famous sites, through the MacKenzie Country. We spent time at Lake Tekapo, then onto see Mount Cook, New Zealands highest mountain. From there we headed to Lake Ohau where we were spending the night. The scenery everywhere was amazing, lots of which looks just like being at home. Its mad seeing people taking pics of hills and fields when we see it everyday!!!!!!

We seem to spend loads of time on the coach the first few days, although its a small country it takes ages to get from a to b!!!! We spent the first night in a beautiful Lodge right beside a lake and surrounded by mountains, it was beautiful. From there the thing I was most excited and nervous about was our overnight cruise on the Milford Sound, which is famous here. I overdosed on travel tablets and was totally fine....until the morning!!! It got really rough and I was ill!! Everyone was fabby though making sure I was ok, looking after me!!! While on the cruise we had a boat trip around the area then chilled, had dinner etc and also had a few vinos!! Played cards and learnt a new game which I need to teach you all, it was hilarious!!!! Youd have all been so proud of me!! You should have seen what we had to sleep in!! Tiny tiny rooms with 2 sets of bunk beds which just had a curtain seperating them from the other areas!! LOVELY!! I was amazed I slept really well.

After we were back on dry land we headed to Queenstown which is the party, fast paced place in New Zealand. Here people bungy, sky dive and do other mad things!!! As I had always wanted to do a sky dive I signed up for it. Everyone was nega supportive of each other and were all scared which really helped lol. I DID IT!!!!!! it was the most amazing thing ever and I would defo do it again. Was gutted though as wanted the DVD and photos but the pics never turned out!! Seemingly this happens now and again with being so high, me having the luck I have it happened to me!!!!! Il still have the DVD to show you all. Last night we enjoyed a buffet meal at the Skyline restaurant which we had to go up in a Gondala to get too!! It was lovely. Before heading up we went to a really lovely area and had a group ohoto taken whcih we are allowed to buy if we want it. Today the sun is shining and were going to go back up to the top of the mountain and do the luge, which is like a wee cart and you travel down the mountain on it, should be a laugh and now that Iv sky dived I can do anything hahaha. Off out for a mad one tonight. A long lie tomorrow woo hoo!! Its been mega early night, lots of travelling anf late nights but having a fab time. So much more to look forward to!!!!

What a fab night. Everyone headed out and the tour manager had organised a few places for us to go with cheap drinks!!! We soent 30 minutes in the Minus 5 bar which is an ice bar, it was amazing. We all had to put on Ugg boots, big parkers and gloves before we went in!!! The glasses were made of ice and we worked our way through loads of cocktails in the half an hour!! Was a fab experience standing in this tiny room full of ice sculptures, felt like a winters day at home!! You seemingly can only spend 30 minutes there with you drinking its not good for you!! Probably explains why I always get so drunk at home haha, well thats new excuse now anyway haha, its the cold weather!!!!!! Today were chilling which has been fab, had a mega long lie. Early start tomorrow were heading to the Glaciers and weve all booked a 4 hour trek woo hoo!!!! NOT!!!haha will be an experience.

The Glacier was definately an experience. Lets just say we started at the bottom treked through the rainforest, climbed 716 stairs to reach the glacier and then treked over there and back down the 716 stairs!!! We were all red faced and puffing away, it was mad!!! We thought we were going to die at points haha. Looking back though it was a laugh though. Our night was spent at a Ranforest Retreat in Franz Josef which was a nice wee place. Loads of character, the staff were fab and the wine was only $2.50 a glass, bonus!! Although my night off the drink turned into yet another drunken one!! I ended up very rough again this morning and yet another tiring day!! From there we headed to Hokitika and witnessed the art of greenstone carving, then made our way across the southern alps via Arthurs Pass towards Christchurch.

Were back in Christchurch now and everyones going out except me, im being good. Obviously its starting to show that im the oldest hahaha. Off to Wellington in the morning, a 4 hour coach journey followed by the dreaded 3.5hr ferry ride!!!!! Oh I forgot to mention all that and a 6.30am start ahhhhhhh, HELP!!!!!

Heading North we made our way along the Kaikoura coastline. We spotted loads of seal colonies along the way. We boarded the ferry and headed up the Marlborough Sound and the Cook Strait to Wellington. It was so nice havign a chilled night and having nothing to get up for in the morning!! Long lie for me, I set my alarm for 9.30 for breakfast and struggled to get up haha. Had breakfast then headed to the Te Papa Museum and did a spot of window shopping. At night we got a takeaway Indian and spent the night with Flick as it was her last night. The following day we travelled the northern coastline towards the Tongariro National Park, past the volcanoes of the north island to our resort right next to Lake Taupo, it was a lovely wee place. We chilled by the pool in the afternoon which was fab, our first sight of the sunshine in New Zealand.

Next we headed to Roturua, which is the heart of the Maori culture. We spent the morning Zorbing down hills in Zorbs filled with soapy water!! What a laugh. Then we went to Rainbow Springs and then onto the Thermal Village where we witnessed how some of the locals live. At night we went to a Hangi and Concert which was an experience. We ate Hangi cooked food and watched the Maori tribesmen and woman do their traditional dancing. It was really good. After that we headed to an outdoor concert which was being held and enjoyed more cultural dancing and the fireworks.

The following day was the most boring day ever!! After yet more time on the coach we arrived at the Agrodome and watched a sheep show!!!!! I bet you are all really jealous!!! Then we hit Waitomo. Misha asked the barmaid at one point what the population was and she replied "50-100" and that was only in the summer!!! There was nothing in sight, so all there was to do was chill, chill and chill!!!!! Monday we headed off early to get up to Auckland to drop off some of the group who werent coming to the Bay of Islands, after saying lots of goodbyes we had lunch in Auckland, picked up some new people then headed north to the bay of islands. Its ovely up here, the suns shining!!!! Our first night we had a BBQ then headed out in the town. Today has been mega chilled, I had a pedicure and witnessed the Maori community practice for their cultural day on the 6th Feb, where the King is coming to be entertained! It was fab, I took a lot from it!! Tonights a chilled night before an early start tomorrow back to Auckland where our tour ends. Its been fab and iv really enjoyed New Zealand. Iv got another night in Auckland befote heading back to Melbourne on Thursday afternoon. Meeting a girl Amy I know tomorrow night which will be nice.

Spent my last night in Auckland at the Kiwi International, just my like when I got there there was major building work haha. We ended up heading out and having a lovely meal and some vino!!!