We only had one day in Wellington, the capital, after enjoying our confotable stay in Paraparaumu too much. So, we made the most and it was a very busy one. Sue took us to the station in the morning and we fired onto the train into the big city. Its phenomenal the amount of people who make conversation with you when you have a backpack and are clearly a traveller. Honestly, if your every lonely, buy a backpack and look a bit confused, guaranteed chat. Consider it an option. On the short journey, four people struck up conversation with us including a wee scotman from Bishopbriggs! Hilarious. Another guy was going on about Queenstown and how if we go there we will get stuck. He lost his wife to Queenstown. Awkward. Yeah, everyone seems to bloody love the place. Cannot wait to get down there and check it out. Arrived in town quick smart and hopped on a bus to our hostel. Watching the street names, with our backpacks..another local pipes up asking where we are looking for and personally escorts us there. Honestly. These kiwi folks. Absolute diamonds.

In the hostel reception we are reunited with Evelyn and Levi Cherry. Unbelievable. Couldn´t check in until after 1pm so just dumped our stuff, grabbed some lunch and hit the Te Papa museum. Apparently a big deal. Some bits were great and some bits were a bit dull. Something for everyone I guess! Seen the biggest invertebrate ever discovered, the collosal squid, on display there. Pretty collosal. An eye the size of a football. Large. Experienced an earthquake. Learned about a breeding initiative for the Kakapo birds which involved an ejaculation helmet...awkward when Bill the museum worker came to explain the initiative further, as we were giggling away at this ridiculous looking helmet and Rhona was lining up her reflection in the glass to look like she was wearing it. Poor old Bill. Spent quite a while in the museum then headed out into the sun and caught a cable car up to the botanics. Sat happily in the warmth looking out over the city. Not for too long though, headed back to the hostel to meet a team for dinner before meeting with Sue's grandson and his partner, Wayne and Alex. They were our Wellington advisors. Took us to a cool place called the Establishment which had a live band on the go, lots of live music goes on in Wellington. It's a very groovy place. They sadly had to head off sharpish as they were working early but we continued our night with a pub crawl of live music venues. Ended up in a place called Mighty Mighty on Cuba Street. What a smart wee venue, filled with kooky individuals. Pink velvent curtains. Karaoke night. Would have loved to have got drunk and carried away but early start in the morning for the ferry so we tore ourselves away just after midnight and returned to our hostel like good little girlies :).

Kate xxx