Well the countdown to xmas is on, actually not really for us, but for you lot I'm guessing it is! We are currently ringing around places in the Bay of Islands trying to find somewhere to have xmas dinner! At least now we've changed our hostel, the one we will be staying in is described as luxury, although for a hostel I'm a little wary!

Just posted some pictures of NZ! Didn't bother with scenery as there's so much, and I'm sure you'd prefer to have pictures of little old me instead lol.

Just got to Christchurch, between now and my last entry I have spent another night in Queenstown, 2 in Mt Cook and one in Lake Tekapo.

Ok forgot to tell you the most exciting part of the rafting trip was Briony fainting before it had even begun! She claims lack of water, Sarah and I claim its the eating next to nothing but who knows! Anyway we had a fantastic time anyway. Next day we headed off to Mt Cook, and had sunshine all the way apart from naturally when we reached the hostel, then it started chucking it down. My observations about NZ have increased- there are a fair few hitch-hikers around, and two there is a lot of road kill! It's so gross, we see squished furry things about every 10 minutes or so, crazy really. Nearly hit 2 eagles today eating it....eeeew!

Apart from the weather, Mt Cook was very impressive. On the way we drove past a lake that was amazing, so bright it was almost green. Lots of snowy mountains, glaciers and Japanese people. It's quite strange, they are everywhere. (Similar to the Irish in Oz...)

OK, although the first day was a bit crap we were blessed with 2 days of absolutely gorgeous sun afterwards. Went out on a speed boat on the terminal lake of the Tasman Glacier. For those of you who don't know, and I was included until about 2 days ago, the glacier is sort of attached to the land, and goes down about 200m. Bits of it break off pretty much every day (faster now due to global warming) called ice bergs and float around in lakes (or the sea). We got 'up close and personal' with the ice bergs and glacier for ages, and had a really mental kiwi guide who knew everything about them. (see picures of us standing on ice bergs!) It was really good anyway. In the afternoon we decided (god knows why) to go on a hike. We walked to the Hooker Glacier, and the lake. Similar to Tasman except there were hardly any ice bergs, not sure why, I guess the glacier must be smaller or older perhaps.

Well, despite being wrapped up in 17 layers of clothing and floating around ice bergs I still managed to burn my face and get a mild case of sun stroke!!!! Don't panic mother, I am fine now, but have been feeling pretty crap for a couple of days. A chinese last night revived me! I honestly have never seen my nose so red, its amazing really :-) Sadly no photos were taken, I'm sure you'll be very disappointed.

Ok, after having breakfast at a posh hotel overlooking Mt Cook (again see photos) we headed to Lake Tekapo. It's literally a service station passing as a town. Population is 350!!!! Very pretty views of the lake and the star attraction, a church (!) but not much else. Messed around in the garden attempting and giving up on a 1000 piece jugsaw of Lord Of the Rings, and stole some books from the book swap, then ate chinese and surprisingly went to bed!

We've just arrived in Christchurch (second time around) and are planning our first real night out in NZ thus far! (in 16 days). I'm not going to promise I won't get drunk, but as we are driving to kaikora tomorrow, via a thermal spring, I won't be drinking too much so fear not! Dolphin swimming awaits, I am so excited.

Hope you enjoy the pics anyway, muchos love and xmas wishes, Louxxxxxxx