Think crystal clear turquoise water, yellow sand beaches, forest and waterfalls and you've just about summed up Abel Tasman National Park. Its beautiful, although it seems slightly unreal due to all the vibrant colours. Have done several walks around the park, bathed in Cleopatra's pool (sadly it wasn't full of milk) and bruised myself hurtling down the natural waterslide worn way in the rocks! I am now a woman of the seals! Had an amazing seal swim, very flatte...

Ah lovely Wellington! This is the best city, so vibrant, crazy and unexpected! Here are some of the fantastical and wonderous things I have seen in this amazing city: -cash machines that read out short stories in bizarrly expressive voices while you take out your cash -A singing juggler on the street -man with crystal balls doing 'performace art' and really talented buskers everywhere - fishburgers made from REAL fish that tasted amazing! -loads and loads ...

Taupo is actually quite pretty when it doesn't rain. This was my first realisation on my second arrival here. A lake and mountains, that kind of thing (last time the rain and fog made it seem like Stars in thier eyes entrance tunnel). The sun was on my side this time through and thus there was no escape from the famous Tongariro Crossing, home of Mount Doom and many very strong legged hikers. That name says its all, really- during this hike I was filled with th...

Napier has black sand and rips in the sea that you can't swim in!!! Shock Horror! However, it is chock full of Art Deco buildings, as the whole town was wiped out by an eathquake in the 1930's and then all rebuilt in the same art deco style. I was really excited about seeing this, but in the concrete as it was, it seemed a little unreal and lacking in variety. Oddly i think it would have been more impressive mixed in with other styles to contrast its flat ice cr...

Yeeeeeee ha! I've been up to all sorts of death defying feats (don't worry mum, I'm ok!) in true NZ stylee! Zorbing was the first on the list of excitements as this is the only place in NZ that does it, and it was such a laugh-diving into a 9ft high clear rubber ball like a superhero, chucking in some water then launching yourself off down a hill! I couldn't stop giggling! And I've just come back from white water rafting and am a bit soggy! Got to wear a wesuit...