Kia Ora! Its pretty cool the way there seems to be only one maori language (as opposed to our Aborigines) and how many non-maori kiwis know at least a few phrases or words of it. Ive also had many maori tour guides, e.g. at Rotorua the Hells Gate geothermal mud pools and spa place is owned by the traditional peoples of that area and run entirely by them.

But now i am in Queenstown! And it is FREEZING! im not sure of the temperature, but he wind chill is unbelievable. i look like a snowman.

Caught two planes from Rotorua, both pretty small to Queenstown so that was noisy and ear hurting but fine. Got dropped at the Rydges where i was suppposed to be an economy grade room but low and behold i had been upgraded! My room is sooo pretty! and the tv actually works which is a first for this trip (i had been having slight withdrawel symptoms with no reading material and no tv). Had dinner at a place called Monty's which had been recommended and it was indeed nice and within the price range thankfully. I had to then do a load of washing as i had run out of clothes and my towel and swimmers from the mud bath were muddy wet and VERY STINKY. unfortunately i didnt realise that this would mean that i now have a load of 'clean' clothes which smell distinctly of mud. oh well.

that was MONDAY!