In case anyone has been confused by my postcards so far (all about Thailand), I wrote them all in New Zealand as I didn't get time in Thailand, so I wrote them in Christchurch and also Franz Joseph. Anyway, I can now start writing about New Zealand, and amazing that it is I haven't done as much stuff so far here in a week as I did in Thailand, but I am taking it at a much slower pace as I do have 6 weeks (only 5 now!) I met Nikki (friend from Blandford who I used to work with) in the airport an hour after I flew in, in Christchurch. It was so exciting we were rather hyperactive for the rest of the day! It was shockingly cold there was snow on the mountains it was beautiful but a bit strange after leaving the heat of Thailand and fairly hot England when I left! I'm sure it won't be hot at home any more though! We got a bus to our hostel right in the city centre, and chilled out for the rest of the day, swapping travels stories and for me tales of what I have been doing back home since Nikki left in March! We had a good meal out very cheap - no way near as cheap as Thailand though! Even though I had had no sleep the night before on the plane we decided to go to the bar in the hostel (they all have bars) as there was a band playing. The next day (after getting up at about 12) we managed to find a bus just out of town to a gondola which was a cable car running up the hill with amazing views of the sea, lake and mountains and there was a snowman someone had built! Watched the sun set up there then bussed back via a nice cheapo supermarket - got some good budget food, but still healthy! We also took advantage of the free food shelf in the hostel - every hostel has them, where people are leaving and don't want their food, it's great we have had loads of it so far! The next day we went out exploring including lots of shopping - mostly for some warmer clothes and gloves etc. I didn't bring that sort of thing with me I think I was a bit optomistic! We had a little ride on the tram which takes you round the middle of the city and we got off and looked at the Art gallery which was very good actually I did't really think I would like it, but it was good. Christchurch is a really nice little city, smaller than Exeter and Yeovil probably so very small city! Nice small buildings though, and a river and gardens, not hectic in the slightest! The central square where we were staying is really nice too. When we got back to our room in hostel Natalie Nikki's friend from home that she has been travelling with in Oz had arrived she had just flown from Tasmania, I am definitely going to go there now! (Wanted to anyway). We ended up having a good chat, ate late, went on internet till late then had to creep around in the room so as not to wake anyone as there were 3 other girls sharing with us. We didn't make any friends there just chatted a bit to different people we were more concerned about chatting to each other but the people I met there all seemed really nice. Had to creep around in the dark again in the morning as that morning we had to leave on the Kiwi bus at 7am would you believe! We didn't really start chatting to people properly until we arrived in Greymouth on the Weat coast (Christchurch on the east) or until we got to our hostel a bit further down from there. We had some nice rest and scenic stops on the way some of them in National Parks, although all of New Zealand looks like a National Park - it's so unspoilt, mountains lakes and forests are everywhere, hardly any towns and so far on the roads we have hardly passed any other cars and now that i am writing this in Queenstown we have travelled about 500 - 600 km! There aren't as many sheep as I thought there would be either, and they also have cattle and deer farms too - they eat loads of venison. The place we stayed the first night of the Kiwi bus tour was a random motel type place near the beach and a lake - both very beautiful. It was owned by this 80 year old guy called Les who talked to us on the bus he was well funny! The place was pretty much mobile homes - kitchen, toilets, bedrooms were all in different units, and there was a quirky pub with hats all over the ceiling and photos of Kiwi bus groups plastered over the walls! We had a toga party that night and got a bit drunk, and got to know some others better but still haven't really spoken to some of them but never mind! We shared a room with Anna a lovely Geordie lass she's a really good laugh, and we have shared a room with her and a couple from Kent that are lovely some of the other nights, depends on the size of the rooms. I reckon us lot will stay in touch - we won't be doing the whole trip together as i am spending longer in each place from now on as I have about 3 more weeks than them! Also Nat and Nikki have only got 3 weeks too so will be saying goodbye soon. The next day we went to a place called the bushman centre and learnt about how they cull or capture live deer for farming as they are pests and too many like in the UK, although we don't jump out of helicopters and take them back to farms like they do - its a bit bonkers! They had a big scary pig which someone fed and also possums (but they sold possum pies too!!!) They are pests here like our rabbits and squirrels as they were introduced from oz, so you see loads of hats and things made out of possum which you would think i would hate, but its good for the environment as they eat everything so its ok. The guy there was really funny too, we had a good laugh there. We then drove on to Franz Joseph which is a typical ski resort - more hotels there than houses, it was a nice place though. Had a relaxing evening, including going in the spa which was outside! Was really nice but freezing when you got out and legged it back to the hostel room across the car park! The next day lots of us had booked on the 3/4 day glacier hike, which was amazing. We borrowed all the gear and had a short bus ride then walked up to the glacier, which looked different to how I imagined. There was a cliff of ice towering above, which had steps cut in and a few ropes where it was really steep. We had special ice talons to grip the ice so it wasn't slippy at all, but you had to be on the ball as there were little pools of water, cracks and steep drops everywhere! I thought once we had got up the cliff bit it was going to be fairly flat but it wasn't it was up and down and in and out of very scary crevices all the way! It was very hard work, especially having to concentrate so much and not fall and slip and get boots caught in one another! My feet and hands fell like they were going to fall off towards the end even with 2 pairs of socks and gloves as the ice just went through. It rained a bit up there but not much luckily think it would have been horrible if it rained all day. It is really hard to describe what it was like, but however you try and imagine it its' probably not like that! Was like being in the Arctic i guess with passages and cliffs and pools, very strange. There were steps all over the place but our leader also made loads on the way as the glacier is always moving so they disappear. Loved it but was relieived when it was over as it was hard and very cold but I loved the challenge. We had a really early start again the next day, but we had loads of really cool stops, including a short walk to a lake which had a perfect mirror reflection of the trees and mountains. We also stopped at a beautiful beach where we caught a glimpse of some dolphins quite close to shore - that was so cool. We also stopped at an amazing big waterfall with a fast flowing blue river and also these gorgeous blue pools and river, which would have been so good for swimming if it was hotter air temp and water temp - they were close to freezing I'm sure! We didn't stop for lunch just carried on to Wanaka and got there at about 3.30! Our hostel there was a hotel and we made the most of our EN-SUITE bathroom with a bath! Had a balcony and nice kitchen and free DVD to watch in the lounge area, so we were loving it! Walked round the shops and to the lake too, that was really nice. The next day we went to puzzling world which was really funny, full of illusionary things we were giggling non-stop! Then we went to a bungy bridge were lots of people did a bungy jump! I didn't do one, sorry to disapoint you, but about 60 quid to chuck yourself off a bridge and the whole thing only lasts about 2 minutes - I dont think so! Some of them looked so scared - I'm not surprised! It looked fun but extremely scary! Not for me. We continued to Queenstown and I am very impressed with this hostel called the Discovery lodge right in the centre of town again. Practically en-suite bathroom, balcony (bit pointless though as the views invovle a wall and a building site!) Its really smart though and a good bar, which we experienced last night. I booked up skiing and paragliding but had to cancel the skiing today as my knee started being very painful for no reason yesterday in the supermarket! Its much better today but not 100% so I am not taking aby risks, especially as you really use your knees for skiing. Shame though, was looking forward to it. Had a really good time last night, went to our hostel bar and the 'world bar' up the roads both with dance floors so we dodn't stop dancing! There's a quiz on tonight so a bit mellower i am hoping! All I have done today is this, lazing around and gone to a cafe for a fantastic all day brekkie! Am hoping to walk the Routeburn track on Saturday and Sunday (you stay in a hut overnight). I get a bus there and to pick me up but I have to carry food, water and stuff for cooking and the huts have no running water or electric so I am really going to be roughing it! Am looking forward to it though, so if my knee gets bad again I will be really gutted indeed! Have got loads of other fun stuff planned for the rest of the trip but won't write it in yet in case for some reason I can't do it and because it won't be a surprise then either! As the others are skiing tomorrow i expect I will try and do some walking but still better take it easy - damn knee! I'm not even running, or maybe thats why maybe they are in protest at not running for so long! well, this is a ridiculously long postcard, so will probably be updating again in Kaikoura in about a week.