Hi Everyone,

Since Jack last wrote a journal to you all we have travelled around quite alot. We have done the very north of the South island now and have started to work our way back down the east coast towards Christchurch. We found a place in land called Hanmer Springs which have hot thermal pools which hopefully we will be testing out this afternoon.

The weather hear is so mixed. One day its t-s*** and shorts weather and really hot and the next were wearing jumper, trousers and its raining. I suppose its a bit like English weather on occasions. We had to pop into a cheap shop the other day to buy a fleece each and a pair of jogging bottoms as it was so cold. Apparently the weather in the north island is supposed to be much better and Kiwi's say that this is the worst summer they have had for a long time!

Dispite the miserable weather this morning we are enjoying ourselves and the scenery is beautiful. The other day we were driving along some coastl roads and there were seals on the rocks below us so we stopped and got really close to the and took some pictures.

We went wine tasting the other day too in Belnheim which is one of the best Sav Blanc areas in the world and they were very tasty wines too. Evern Jack has started to like them. (Ali you would have really enjoyed some of the wines the red merlot was particually good). Hopefully we will go wine tasting again in the north when mom and dad arrive as its supposed to be good in the North island too.

Were still with our friends at the moment, its quite nice to have a group of us to travel around with. Jack can talk to Neil about all things male and me and Sarah are enjoying the conversations about shopping and food.

We went on a 3 1/2 hour walk yesterday to see a waterfall which was rather nice. We didnt realise until we set off that it was mostly all up hill. I was so tired by the time i got to the top, im definatley missing the Gym.

We went out for a nice meal on valentines day, it was fairly cheap and a bit of a luxury but we both had green lipped mussles, a specialality here in NZ. I think Jack is slowly warming to sea food as he really enjoyed them.

Anyway this hilbilly town only has one internet computer and its really expensive so were off now.

Speak to you all again soon,

Liz and Jack xx