Queenstown was the next destination I went to. Many people consider this their favourite place. I didn't think the scenery could get better than Wanaka, but Queenstown was amazing too, especially the views from the top of Queenstown hill - mountains, lakes, trees, wilderness. It had everything and was stunning. I had used up most of money by this time and the fall in the pound made it too expensive to do anything else, but I did find some a cheap wine tasting place and went ice skating too.

Another highlight of my trip was the visit to Milford Sound on the 10th. It's actually a Fjord not a Sound, as it was created by a glacier hollowing out a large valley that leads to the sea. It was named by an explorer after his home-town of Milford Haven in Wales. After a few stops to get some scenic photos along the way, I took a boat trip out along the Milford Sound as far as the Tasman Sea. I was surrounded by massive mountains covered in rainforest and waterfalls - an awe-inspiring sight. It was very windy and cloudy on the way out but as the boat turned around to head back in, the sun came out and there were some brilliant views. However, I was very annoyed with myself as I hadn't fully charged my phone, and the battery died just as the sun shone on the mountains which would have provided brilliant photo opportunities.

I soon headed to Lake Tepako for a night. The weather was really poor again so I couldn't do the astronomy in the dark sky reserve but the bus did stop at lake Pukaki on the way which was very blue from the dust that comes down as the waters of the glacier flow over the rocks.

I really enjoyed the next destination - Christchurch. It is a very English looking city, and the river Avon flows through it. Unfortunately there was an earthquake a few years ago that destroyed the town centre, but it has inspired some innovative thinking such as a Re:start shopping mall made up of shops operating out of shipping containers, a new transitional "cardboard" cathedral and lots of street art. The gardens are also very beautiful. The best part of my trip however, was the Museum with its virtual reality area. It was based around the future of flight on an Air New Zealand plane, and it was absolutely amazing. I even had tears in my eyes when it ended due to the sheer beauty and the realisation of what this could mean for entertainment in the near future. I can't wait for it to become more affordable. Meeting up with Alexa, the teacher in Korea who I replaced, for a day out in Akaroa was really good fun too.

After that it was time to start heading north again - first to Kaikoura which was famous for dolphin swimming, and then back on the ferry across to Wellington. After a few more days with Adam, I went up to Taupo and then back to Auckland where I would be taking a flight back to the UK. On the way to Auckland, I managed to complete the last "must do" for New Zealand - I stopped off at a Kiwi sanctuary and saw a cute baby Kiwi bird being fed, as well as an adult one wandering around. With my New Zealand trip over, it was time to head home - via a twelve hour flight to San Francisco, a 6 hour layover and then another 10 hour flight to London. On Friday 28th October, I arrived back in Paignton and my journey was finally complete - almost two years had passed, and it was good to be home!