Thursday 29th July - We got up nice and early to make the most of this day since we wasted the day before trying to find a new camera. We headed to Te Papa museum which is rated the second best museum int he world. The best thing about it was it was free!! We spent a couple of hours in there then got the tram up to the botanical gardens where it started to rain. After some photos of the view overlooking Wellington we walked through the gardens back down to the centre. On the way down Rach found a nice suprise in her boot left by our roomie, Irish Charlie!!!! It started to chuck it down so we took shelter in a cafe and treated ourselves to a hot chocolate! We then went to House of Parliament and had a free tour round which was really interesting. We even went into the public gallery to watch the debating. V exciting stuff! That evening we got ready and drank with all the girlies on the bus. We went to a bar called JJ's which was a mission from our hostel and ended up losing everyone in there. So we headed back to the hostel bar which was full of rugby boys whoop whoop! Was a very good night with Rachels chinese ending up all over the floor, sorry cleaners!

Friday 30th July - Hayley lost her key but eventually found it in her safe place after we had checked out so had to run back to the hostel to get her deposit back. We caught the ferry to the South Island, took 4 hours, in which Rachel was sick. She tells Hayley it was sea sickness but Hayley doesn't beleive it! We arrived at Picton in the South Island and got back on the bus to Nelson. We checked into our hostel and then went for a walk up to the centre point of New Zealand. From here you could see all of Nelson and we watched the sunset.

Saturday 31st July - We went to Abel tasman National Park today. We had to get a bus for an hour to the water taxi rank. Here we got a boat which took us to see seals and then dropped us off on a beach in the National Park. We walked for 4 hours through the forest and along the coast. It was 13km altogether with passing secluded beaches. There are houses in the National Park but they have no running water or electricity so they just come here for holidays.

Sunday 1st August - Woke up to lots of rain! It didn't really matter though as we spent most of the day on the bus to Westport. Stopped off at Lake Rototoiti, which is the Lake on all the Kiwi Experience posters, and a few crazy boys jumped in! Didn't really see much as it was foggy and wet but at least we got to see it. When we arrive din Wesport it was still raining so just stayed in and watched videos alll night by the fire which was scorching us and Hayley nearly exploded.

Monday 2nd August - Another bus day today to Lake Mahinipua. We stopped off for a walk at Cape Foulwind where we saw some seals. Arrived at the poo pub (our hostel for the night) and went for a walk to the beach and then the lake. We had tea cooked by Les which was amazing. Especially the venisson stew. Les made us laugh so much. He is this crazy 86 year old man with a really long beard!! We then all get ready into our fancy dress costumes, the theme was to dress as something begginning with your first intial. Hayley was Harry Potter an Rachel was a rabbit. Then partied at the poo pub whoop whoop!

Tuesday 3rd August - Today we headed to Franz Josef, we stopped off at this crazy museum, sat in the freezing cold watching a film on how to catch deer. We then had a look round the museum which had dead possums and other crazy stuff. After checking in at Franz Josef we decided to go for a walk. It said it was a 20min round walk on the map but we didn't realise it would take 2 hours to get to the start of the walk!! After walking for about an hour we realised this and turned back. We just went to the bar for a couple that night.

Wednesday 4th August - Up early today for the glacier hike. We walked to the place for our equipment hire, waterproof trousers, raincoat, boots, crampons and socks. Hayleys boots were squelching from the day before, lovely. Bused it to the start of the glacier. We trecked it for about an hour through bushes and by the side of the river, in which time Rachel managed to lose her jacket. Our guide, Phil couldn't have been anymore chilled out about it and said, 'cool, no worries.' She ended up borrowing his jacket, poor phil! Especially when it started raining. The hike was amazing, we climbed up ice, through wormholes and squeezed through narrow gaps. It was a full intense day but was a fantastic day!

Thursday 5th August - We got the bus to Wanaka today and on the way stopped at Lake Matheson. Here there were fab views of the mountains reflections on the lake. We also stopped off at a beach to write messages on rocks. It was cool to see all the meesages lined up along the beach. Arrived in Wanaka and went to watch the sunset over the lake. The towns really pretty, a ski resort surrounded by snow capped mountains. Headed back to the hostel where KC was cooking for us. Vegi chillie yum! Had a few drinks and a game of pool then headed to bed!!