Hello from Queenstown. We've been here a couple of days now. Took the scenic route on a coach from Christchurch on Tuesday, it was really good. The driver was very knowledgeable and did a good commentary. We were very tired though after sleeping on the floor in Christchurch airport.

Yesterday we had a sleep-in, then went to the Kiwi and Birdlife Park, which was really cool. We saw kiwis! Saw lots of other native birds as well. I had kumara chips, which are like sweet potato, really yummy.

Today I paddled in the lake - Simon found it too cold - wuss - then I walked up a mountain, while Simon took the gondola/cable car thingy. The walk was longer than I had expected from what I'd read about it - it took me an hour and 15 minutes and was a lot of uphill climbing. Before I'd got to the top to see the views, it had started raining, so I didn't get to see that much anyway! I got the gondola back down, even though they really scare me.

The activities in Queenstown are really really expensive, so I'm glad bungee jumping and sky diving don't appeal to me.

Tomorrow we're getting a coach to Dunedin and staying there a few days, then hopefully hiring a car and driving slowly to Invercargill.