Adelaide to Sydney (South West Rocks) 28th Dec 2011 to 4th Jan 2012 With one festivejolly over with its time to start another one! A short Virgin hop from Adelaide to Sydney and a couple of days to chill out at Chris and Ben's before heading up to South West Rocks on the East Coast for New Year. Being that I tackled Sydney two years ago there was not much call for the tourist spots. So this really was a lazy couple of days. A few hours' drive from Sydney and ...

Melbourne to Adelaide, Australia - 23rd to 27th December 2011 So the backpacking can take a back seat for a while because it's CHRISTMAS! Now anyone who knows me that well will know that I'm not the biggest fan of Christmas, so the above outburst is somewhat out of character. Don't worry, I've not suddenly found god overnight; I'm still the same old cold miserable vacuums' queen that you all know and love. I'm just excited about seeing Chris and Ben, and of co...

Melbourne, Australia - 17th to 22nd December 2011 So once again I find myself back in the place I fell in love with 3 years. After hunting out some of the local hostels in the St Kilda area I've booked myself into the Habitat HQ, and as a little treat I've booked a double room. At $100 a night this is only a one off treat! Melbourne is my chill out time, so I took to wondering the city and wasting the day away on St Kilda beach. Upon seeing the mouth of Luna ...

Rangitata to Christchurch - 16th December In the morning I made my way from Rangitata to Christchurch. I've only a day in Christchurch before flying out later that night, and in the nicest possible way, thank god it's just that. I never understood the sheer scale of what happened to Christchurch and upon seeing it with my own eyes I was numbed. There was an uncomfortable but at the same time peaceful feel about the city. With most of the CBD fenced off there w...

Mt Cook to Rangitata - 14th to 15th December 2011 So today it's all change. Our trip from Mt Cook to Rangitata was as miserable as our mood. After saying bye to Team Sweden in Christchurch we both continued to Rangitata. Rangitata is renowned for its beach and dolphins, for which I was really looking forward to after being blown out in the Bay of Islands. But this was not to be, so instead myself and Georgie checked into separate hostels (there is a reason for...