I have been meeting the local wildlife, an interesting lot! Our hostel in the Catlins was right on the beach, home of the Sea Lions which, despite thier lazy and almost comatose appearance, can actually move at an impressive speed as I found out, nearly to my peril, as I was being chased by a huge bull Sea Lion with enormous teeth! Luckily all that training at the gym paid off (haha) and I escaped with all my limbs intact. And they roar, just like a lion. I gues...

Queenstown, home of crazy adrenaline activities! I have been quite sedate though, watching my frineds leap off bridges attached by only a rubber band (albeit quite a thick one) was enough excitement/terror for me! I hadn't realised how beautiful it was around here- magestic snow capped mountains, glassy lakes, all picture postcard stuff. Much like the whole of New Zealand actually, this country really is is breath taking and looks just like the postcards :-) We...

Doubtful Sound is the most tranquil, magical place, no doubt about it! The overnight cruise, gliding through the still, dark waters and misty snow capped mountains, was magical. Even got to kyak on the water and see a resident pod of Bottlenose dolphins feeding, saw the sunset on the Tasman Sea and said Good Night to the seals lounging on the rocks there...thats what I call a great day! It was so good I even enjoyed the experience of the coffin sized bunks in ...

I have hiked up a galcier! It was incredible, so beautiful and breathtaking. When we arrrived and saw it bathed in pink from the sunset, it was like nothing else yet when we got onto it it was bright blue and white and completely different. It was pouring with rain and I got drenched but felt like a proper explorer with my crampons and on feet and the alpine pole! The glacier is catually getting bigger by 3m a day(something to do with the hotter it is in Austra...

Golden Bay is THE most beautiful place! Right on the most northen tip of the South Island, its very isolated with not much public transport and it has the most windswept and atmospheric beaches and landscapes. Standing on top of one hill, I could see for miles around - the 'Old Man range', Puponga port beach and far out to the end of Farewell Spit (now a nature reserve) curving away in the distance. Highlights included: -More bonding with seals as the pups wer...