Hello!

Blimey it's been a while! I have completed the North Island adventures and have now spent two days in the South Island, but believe I left things in Whangerei...

I spent just one further night in Auckland before starting my Kiwi Experience. I tramped on to the bus feeling pretty nervous, but soon made friends with a lovely German called Carolin who instantly made me feel more like myself. The first stop on the bus was Mercury Bay in the Coramandel Region. I got stuck in and went sea kayaking in the brilliant sunshine surrounded by beautiful 'Thailand-esk' scenery. It was grat fun and we even stopped at Cathedral Cove for a tasty hot chocolate and cookie - the Kiwi's know how to do things! That night was relatively relaxed with us sitting around a yummy spaghetti bolognaise and chatting about anything and everything.

The following day on our way to Rotorua we stopped for a walk through Karangahake Gorge, strolling through the pitch black gold mines and scaring each other a little...! We stopped for lunch at Matamata (aka Hobbiton) where I had to get my gollum/hobbit photo :) We finally arrived in Rotorua, where Carolin and I wandered around the free thermal parks and nearly threw up from the smell (Dave - think of my burps in Hong Kong when I was ill!). Later that night we ventured out for a cultural Maori evening. I was a little dubious about it and it was completely for tourists, but I loved it. We paddled our canoe (whaka), or bus, to the village, witnessed a hakka, learnt about the traditional village life, watched Maori dancing and singing then finished off the night with a superb Hangi meal, which was much needed after plenty of pasta meals that I've been living off!

I stayed in Rotorua an extra day, so said my good-bye to Carolin, and spent the day relaxing and exploring the town. I met up with some others (Milli, Sarah, Brendan and Megan) who also stayed a little longer and cooked some tasty Mexican food together. Another relaxed evening followed before clambering on the bus the next day, which went via a shepa shearing show (need I say more?!) then onto Waitomo for the best caving I have ever done. It's named black water rafting and consists of you getting dressed up in lots of wetsuit layers, holding a rubber ring round your butt, stumbling through the cold, dark, wet caves (eels present, including Cecil!) and jumping off waterfalls backwards in to a pool you cannot see as it's too dark! The more relaxing part was floating through the glow worm caves that were absolutely beautiful. It was like looking up to a brilliantly clear night time sky. In the hillarity of the caves I chatted to a Canadian called Julie, who I later ended up sharing a room with and loved chatting to her - she's so nice.

My 3rd day with Kiwi started with a visit to a Angora Rabbit sanctury and watching one of the huge, fluffy white rabbits get shaved. this must be done to help keep them at a good temperature, but did look a little unnerving! We then cotinued to Taupo via the Huka Falls where a lot of New Zealand hydraulic power comes from. The first night in Taupo was purely getting ready for the Tongariro Crossing the following day so I bought lots of sweets and chocolates :) The night before the crossing we munched on free pizza and went to the car for a few drinks before an early bed.

I rose at 5.30am and some how managed to find my way onto the right shuttle bus. The walk the day before had been cancelled due to bad weather so I had everything crossed to make my trip there a successful one...it was sublime! The mist was very heavy at the start of the day, but soon cleared and there were bright blue skies by the timeI reached the highest point and saw 'Mount Dooom' and the Emerald Lakes. The views were truely spectacular and well worth the early start. As you can imagine by the time we got back there was enough energy to shower, eat then scramble into bed.

Myself and my little group (Milli, Sarah, Eric and Brenden) got on the bus and had another two hour walk in the Tongariro National Park, before wending our way to River Valley. The Kiwi troup stayed in the one and only lodge there, which was very idyllic and nothing really to do other than white water raft or horse trek. I chose to have a chilled out time and simply read by book by the river...heaven!

Our arrival into Wellington the next evening was tainted bu the fact that our accommodation had not been booked by the bus driver as it should have been. Milli, Sarah, Eric and I trampsed round and found a great place called the Wellywood Backpackers, which is painted in Zebra stripes all over the outside! We bought some tasty wine for dinenr then went out on the town - I even borrowed a dress so I felt a little more lady like! It was grat fun to go out to the bars of Wellington and have some drinks and dance (yes the sprinkler did come out!). I crawled into bed around 2.30am so still reasonably early.

Our full day in Wellington was started with a little hangover, a trip round the Te Papa Museum and some shopping! Yay! Was great to by some things to make myself feel more normal! I met up with Carolin again, which was so lovely, and went to the cinema before having dinner with her. I also bumped into someone I met in the Bay of Islands, Elin, so thatwas lovely too :)

Unfortunately it was time to say goodbye to everyone again, as I decided to stay in Picton, where I am now, for two nights. Again a little nervous to be on my own once more, but it as turned out to be one of the most stunning places. I checked in to the best backpackers yet (The Villa) and hastily jumped on a water taxi to take me to te start of the Queen Charlotte track. It was the best 4 hour walk ever, and I truely felt I was in paradise. The colour of the sea was amazing and I even saw dolphins right next to the boat on the way out :) I walked along with the biggest smile on my face the whole way round thinking how lucky I am! hehe!

This afternoon and also been great as I have been wine tasting for the first time ever and feel preety drunk! I met two friendly girls on the same tour and we came back to have bread, cheese, dips and chocolate along with more wine! Hooray!

I start on the kiwi bus again tomorrow heading to Leson for the Abel Tasman and looking forawrd to it, but hope I make more friends...!

Speak again soon and keep the messages coming :)