12th May 2009 Franz Josef

Went this morning to do the Glacier walk. Me and gem were in the 2nd fastest group, and had a guide called Alex. We didnt really want to be in that group but there are 3 girls on the Kiwi bus who noone really likes and we didnt want to end up with them because all they do is moan and i couldnt stand that for 8 hrs...and it turns out (when we got back) we found out all that had done is moan so i am very glad. We had a realy good group actually and the walking wasn't so bad so i was happy. The ice is so cool, right at the top where it is packed so tightly there is hardly any oxygen the ice appears blue. The glacier walkers had found some caves that had been formed and hacked them out so we could go inside which was amazing too. We were shattered when we got back to the lodge so went for a couple of drinks with everyone and then headed to bed.

13th May 2009 Wanaka

It was a long drive to w***a. We stoppped at Lake Matheson in the morning which i had been looking forward to as it is supposed to be really clear and so you can take amazing pictures. It was a bit cloudy so the pictures aren't that great but it was still gorgeous. We then went to a waterfall which was supposed to show an illusion if you looked at it long enough. Basically the waterfall looks like it is going back up if you stare at it for long enough. I wasn't that impressed but it weas funny seeing all 50 of us staring at this waterfall. WE stopped at Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea which are the 3rd and 4th biggest lakes in the South Island, which were also totally gorgeous!

We arrived in Wanaka about 5ish and just unpacked and went for a couple of drinks. There is a drum and Bass party on tonight but we cant really be bothered as we are going to Queenstown tomorrow and want to go on a few big nights out there so we are going to save ourselves.

14th/15th May 2009 Queenstown

On the way to Queenstown we stopped at Puzzleworld. It has a huge maze which me and Gemma attempted but completely failed at, and then loads of illusion rooms with holograms and other cool stuff. It was a good way to pass a couyple of hours but i think most people were quite hungover so we only stayed a couple of hours. We then went to Kawaru bridge where AJ hackett created the 1st commerical bungee. Some of the lads did it and Gem booked in to do her Nevis bungee which is 134m high. I can't belive she is actually going to do it. Morrie our bus driver showed us a DVD and it looks so scary. Unfortunately i can't go with her as you have to pay $60 to get on the bus so I will just watch the DVD.

Arrived in Queenstown late afternoon and just chilled out, got a famous Ferg Buger, which are huge burgers that Queenstown are famous for. It was amazing but i couldnt finish it by any means. We then got ready for the pub crawl that Morrie had organised for us. It was such a good night. Everyone has made friends properly now, which is a shame that we only have 3 nights left but it was really really good! We aren't sharing a room with anyone off our bus either. The people in our room are off the kiwi bus that is a few days ahead of us but everyone is lovely and we have just made even more firends which is good.

Pretty hungover the next day and Gem has her bungee jump in the afternoon a long with another 20 people. I just did odd jobs whilst she was there and then when she came back we had chilli fajitas and then went to do the pub quiz and then headed for bed! AS tomorrow we are doing Milford Sound and have to leave at 7:30am for a 12hr day and i do not want to be tired.

16th May 2009 Milford Sound

Journey to Milford Sound was about 5 hours and it was raining the whole way. There are quite a few walks you do along the way but we had to miss most of them out as it was just so so wet. It was a good day but the rain did let us down a bit as the pictures werent that good, but if it doesnt rain then there are no waterfalls which were amazing, and we went through 1000 waterfalls valley which would have been rubbish if there had been no waterfalls.

We got back quite late and jumped in the shower for a night out. Everyone went into room 312 to do some drinking before we went out and then it was off to the hostel bar followed by World Bar (which is the same chain as the place we went in Sydney which had the teapots). I also met a guy who lives on Marten Drive in Netherton. I knew i recognised him from home and it turns out he is freinds with Paul and everyone, very very small world!

17th May 2009 Queenstown

We met our friend Meg today for lunch. We originally met her in Thailand on New Years Eve and she has been working in Queenstown for a few months now. It was so nice to see her. We were supposed to be meeting her on our first night but her friend had no ID and couldnt get in the club. Me and Gem then had a nap and went to get our Kiwi Bus Hoodies made. Everyone had them printed with their name and Sweet As... written on them which is what everyone says in New Zealand!

As it was our last night we went out again, and had another really good night. Quite a lot of us are leaving tomorrow but a few people are staying extra nights. I cant belive it is the end of the trip already. I really dont want to leave everyone. It felt a bit like leaving Liverpool for the last time when everyone went home at different times.

18th May 2009 Christchurch

The journey to Christchurch took an extra 3 hours as the bridge we use to get there had been closed because of the weather. I slept most of the way and if i wasnt doing that i was eating. We didnt get to Christchurch until 7pm and still needed to sort out our accomodation in Fiji for the next night. Then at 8pm everyone from our bus who had arrived in Christchurch that day went out for a few pizzas which was a really nice to say goodbye! Quite a few people are going to Fiji in the next week but we dont know where we are going yet and neither do they so we probably wont see anybody!