In the morning, I got up for my bus, I met a girl at the hostel and chatted to her quite a bit which was nice. It was weird knowing I had to start all over again, having left everyone else, or them having left me (who would blame them he he). Anyway, we got on the bus, had a brief nap and ended up in Kaikoura. I'd signed my name up to do the dolphin swimming and had the option of that day or the next morning so I picked the morning. I hadn't realised it started at 5.30am! We had to go down and pay for the swimming so we went down there, I met a couple of other people both doing the same thing. Then we wandered the high street and got some food for the bbq later. We sat down for a bit and then went back to the hostel. I decided to have a nap as I was shattered after the lack of sleep before the flight, lazy and boring I know, but necessary. Then we all sat around outside chatting, cooked the bbq, chatted and drunk a bit and then got an early night.

I woke up at 5am in preparation for the dolphins. We got to the place (the driver had annoyingly not left the bus open for us to dump our backpacks so we had to lug those there too) and got all suited up, had a briefing and got on the boat. At this point it was still pretty dark but on the boat, we saw the sunrise which was absolutely incredible. The colours were like nothing I'd seen before and it looked like a painting! Then the sun had come up and after a bit of exploring and chatting to other boats, we found a pod of dolphins. This one was only common dolphins though and apparently they're hard to swim with so we moved on and found a bigger pod. We all jumped in but unfortunately they'd all started moving on by then so we all had to get back on the boat. It was absolutely freezing anyway, I'm not sure I'd have seen anything the first time as it was hard to breathe! Then we jumped in and they were swimming by us, it was amazing how many there were and how energetic they were, diving and leaping. At sunrise, it was just amazing. I didn't see too many the first time but after the next couple of times, I saw quite a few. It was so surreal looking under the water and seeing them swim next to and underneath you! You have to make noises/sing to encourage them too so it was quite funny hearing everyone making the noises. It was just all so unreal though and looking up with the sun coming up and dolphins leaping and swimming around and in front of you, there's nothing quite like it!

We got back on the boat and had the chance to take some proper photos, it was hard while you were in the water but they were leaping alongside the boat, apparently there were 600 of them. They were everywhere. Then we had to head back so we got changed, had some hot chocolate and then had to get on the bus to Nelson which is where I am now.

That night we got there, we walked around the streets a bit, got some food for dinner and cooked sweet and sour stir fry, yum! Then had a couple of drinks in the bar but we all had to be up for our walk/trips to Abel Tasman National Park in the morning and were knackered from the early start so we chatted in the dorm for a bit and went to bed. We had to get a bus and then water taxi to Abel Tasman and I was the only one of that group who chose (for money purposes mainly and to have a bed rather than a tent) not to do the 2 day walk, kayaking and camping trip. I just did the 3.5hr walk. I was with 2 Danish guys and a German guy though and they kept me company which was nice. I think I'd have got a bit freaked out on the walk with cliff edges and all sorts. I was veering away from the edge as it was, ha! That was pretty knackering as a fair bit was uphill. We stopped for lunch and then made it back quite early so we got an earlier taxi back, had a hot drink and then got back to the hostel. I think all the early mornings had caught up with me so I had a nap, had some food, watched some TV and had a dorm room all to myself for the night. It may sound boring and lonely but I think it's exactly what I needed and I feel reviatlised :) Today I've just wandered the shops, going to grab some lunch and maybe walk to the centre point of the whole of NZ. Then I'm meeting the girls later for some dinner and drinks.

On to Westport tomorrow on the bus and hopefully meet lots of new people :)