Started my Kiwi Experience on Thursday and I didn't have a great start. Everyone on the bus had already doen the South island and were heading North so I was very much on my own. Our first stop was Kaikoura. A tiny town with about 10 shops and the main activities to do there were fishing or swimming with dolphins. I decided not to do either of those because the weather wasn't very good so I walked down to the seal colony. 2 hours it took me... I walked most of the south island coastline I think hehe. The scenery was beautiful though and I got to see lots of seals, even little pups, so cute! In the evening me and a few lads got fish and chips and watched American Beauty. On Friday I headed to Nelson, where most of the people on my bus got off to head North and those who had done the North and were heading South, got on the bus. One of those people was Steph. This meant we would be travelling the whole of the South Island together which was awesome. She had met 3 other girls who were solo travellers, Lucie, Laura and Kerry and 2 guys, James and Harry. When we arrived in Nelson we all got a room together, unpacked and had a Roast Dinner. The hostel was lovely. Very homely and very much like an old English pub. The rooms had en-suite and we had a little terrace area where we had drinks in the evening before heading into town. We only had a couple of drinks because we didn't want to be hungover for the next day. On Saturday we went to Abel Tasman, one of the most recommended places to visit. We all put our bikini's on and headed to the coach. After an hour drive and a 45 minute crazy boat ride we arrived at Toronga Bay. From here we walked for 4 hours to Torrento Bay. We were exhuasted after an hour and it was the funniest walk I have ever done. Laura got stung by a bee, twice!, Steph stubbed her toe and Lucie fell down a cliff hehe. Needless to say, my first aid kit came in very handy hehe.

On Sunday we headed to Westport, a little coal mining town on the West Coast. On the way there we went for 2 walks around National Parks which were lovely apart from being bitten by sandflies. They are painful and itch sooo much. We also did speed dating on the bus so that everyone knew each others names and got to know a little but about each other. That was really nice and great fun, apart from the fact, the driver decided to start this game while driving down the windiest road in New Zealand. Moving around the bus was not easy but very funny, especially as we were all hungover from the night before.

Yesterday we went to the only hotel in a tiny place called Lake Maniphua (also known as the poo pub). An 84 year old man runs the place and puts in a fancy dress party every eveing as well as all you can east steak, veg and potatoes for dinner. The food was absolutely delicious an the steak was fantastic. The theme of the party was something beginning with P. Lucie went as a Pensioner, Steph as a Pirate, Laura as a Princess, Kerry as a Panther and I went as a Policeman. Drinks were really cheap and we selected our own music via a free dukebox. I have to say it was the most random but also amazing fancy dress parties I have ever been too. At about 1am we all headed to the beach for a bonfire which was lovely and the stars just filled the sky which was breathtaking.

I have just arrived in Franz Josef. Ive done some washing and now I am off to get ready to go Kayaking to see the sunset and Im climbing the Glacier tomorrow wahoo. Can't wait!