Hi there people,

I know it's been a while so I thought I'd send you the last update from New Zealand as I fly out to Sydney tomorrow, and wait for the best part ... my airport shuttle leaves the hostel at 4am, yay! This is the reason that I will be going to bed shortly, I don't imagine that I'll have much trouble getting to sleep though despite the live band playing just across Cathedral Square as I worked out last night that I've pretty much had about 11 or 12 late nights in a row!

I have had a lot of fun since the last update though and I feel that's the most important thing! Basically I left Queenstown on Friday 1st December and went from there to Milford Sound which was the most scenic day of driving that I've had on the entire trip and Milford is definitely worth a visit. We spent that night in a place called Tuatapere which was pretty much just sheep farming country if you know what I mean. A group of us went down to the local pub that night until it shut at 11pm! We were all so tired that night that we were sat there cracking up laughing at the slightest thing and no doubt keeping the locals entertained. I made some good friends that night and we pretty much stuck together for those days of the tour that we were all on the bus.

The next day we went over to Stewart Island that was another day spent in a local pub, on and off as there was little else to do although I did have the best fish and chips (or fush and chups in a kiwi accent) from a converted caravan, it was antarctic cod, fresh caught. I would highly recommend the caravan for a meal should anyone find themselves on Stewart Island! The trip over there was quite calm, but the trip back was very rough and there were a number of people outside in the rain gripping onto the sides of the boat for dear life, looking a bit green. I was very glad not to suffer from any kind of travel sickness at that point.

We went from Invercargill (the ferry port) to Dunedin which is pretty much Edinburgh on the other side of the world. All the buildings look so scottish it was weird. I splashed out that night and stayed in a twin room with a girl from the bus and it was pure luxury to have an ensuite just between the two of us! that was an early night as the bed was so comfy.

We spent the next morning risking our lives on the narrowest roads ever attempted in a 45 seater bus to check out the wildlife on the Otago Peninsular. I did take a lot of photos which required me to get very close to some sea lions but they look a long way away, damn camera!

We went back to Dunedin at lunch time that day to pick up more people and then headed back home to Queenstown, at which thought I was filled with a childlike excitement. We got to Queenie just in time for a Fergburger (best burgers in the world) and the Altitude karaoke night. Now people try not to fall over at what I'm about to tell you but, I did in fact get up and sing a song with a guy I know called sex pest (don't ask) and it was great fun! I spent the next day sleeping and the day after that I got on the bus again and headed here where the fact that I'm leaving suddenly snuck up on me unprepared.

Today I spent a thrilling day sorting things out on the internet, doing laundry and packing my bag properly again for the first time in months.

I'm very sad at the thought of leaving New Zealand and have decided that I'll definitely be coming back. I must say that I have every intention of coming home according to the original plan, do not fear, but I can no longer guarantee that I'll be staying home for long!

Well I think that's everything updated, I'll let you all know when I've arrived safely in Oz and got myself a job, yay!

lots of love

Kate

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