As planned we were up fairly early this morning and made use of the Internet at the hostel to book accommodation for the next 2 nights - I didn't want to get caught out again! We then went in search of breakfast. Coming out of the hostel we realised we were right on the beach - it was so dark last night we'd not seen the sea just 50m away at the end of the road! So round the corner from the hostel was a beach side cafe which made the most amazing poached eggs a...

After more chatting and more food (this time dim sum) Andy & I left Melbourne on our Great Ocean Road-trip. Although we'd booked a small Toyota Yaris, Hertz had upgraded us to something similar to an open top tank! (And while a removal roof in summer is great, it can not be removed when it's pouring with rain like it will be this wk!) But least the indicators and windscreen wipers were the right way round this time. We left slightly later than planned so ra...

Another lazy day today dominated by food & wine. After spending the morning chatting about the night before we headed down to st kilda for food. The options were endless but in the end we went to a veggie restaurant by the beach. Tempted to order the entire menu as it all looked so good we picked a few things to share. We then spent the afternoon walking along the beach before it was then time to head home & get ready for pre dinner drinks on the balcony...

I caught the 6.30 flight from Auckland to Melbourne. As my application for a working visa had been received & was staring to be processed (meaning my tourist visa could have been cancelled) I was slightly nervous I'd be starring in the Border Force documentary being deported - but all was fine! Phew! I got the sky bus into the centre of Melbourne arriving just after 10. I met up with kul for a quick coffee - we joked about how times have changed - we've neve...

Today I drove through the rain (Autumn is turning to winter today) back to Auckland. Tomorrow I'm heading over to Australia to Melbourne for the weekend to visit my besties Pam & Kul who moved out here 4/5 years ago - yea! My flight is at 6am so am in a motel by Auckland airport for the night. located between the car hire drop off office & the motel is the Villa Maria Winery....New Zealand's most awarded winery! After a walk round the vineyards I got to...