We're not really walking, preparing to travel to goodness only knows what isn't listed as an option. We left Napier and headed North to Gisborne, supposedly the surf capital of New Zealand and yet again the surf was flat, we have been jinxed with surf in both Oz and NZ, bring on Croyde. We were told we could free camp here on the condition, you paid (free?) and that you had a chemical toilet. When we told them we didn't they suggested a bucket and lid!!!!! Do you have any idea how difficult it is to find a bucket with the lid, especially when you know you have absolutely no intention of using it.

We left the next day and got to Taupo, in plenty of time for the International Ironman competition. Unfortunately they seemed to have lost our entry forms so we weren't able to compete. Next year maybe. Yeah right a 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride and then a 42.2km run. The winner did it in 8hrs 18mins. We might be able to do it in 8 days.

We had a great couple of days there actually did do some walking, ummm interesting. We are now back in Waitomo on route to Auckland airport tomorrow. We have decided to spend our last night in The Hobbit Motel, an exact replica of Billbo Baggins house in the Lord of the Rings. It features in the Lonely Planet's Blue List of the top 10 most bizarre places in the world to stay. It felt appropriate.

This will hopefully give us a chance to sort ourselves out, workout how everything goes back into our rucksacks and enjoy some comfort before a week of flying. We arrive in La Paz on Friday, having left NZ on Monday - theres only three other flights in between. Piece of cake. Thanks sta for those connections.

Right we are signing off from New Zealand. We've loved it and will definitely be back one day, maybe not as early as October Mandy and Sally but keep the eggs in the fridge for our return.

Take care guys and hopefully we will be in touch soon, we havent learnt the spanish for "where's the internet cafe" yet but we'll get there instead Hattie is concentrating on "please don't hurt me, hit her she's ginger."

Lots of love us xx