We don't have time to do a full update with pictures and I fear that may be the case for our entire stay here! It's going to be a fast and busy month. We've signed up for a bus tour with a company called Stray. Originally we thought we might get a campervan or car and do it ourselves but the Stray salesman managed to sell it to us in 20 minutes so well done him.

New Zealand is officially awesome. The scenery is fantastic, they speak English, they drive on the left, and you can jump or throw yourself off just about anything.

We spent the weekend in Northland. We stayed in Paihia in the Bay of Islands and did a tour up 90 mile beach (64 miles long, fools). This morning we swam with wild dolphins as part of a cruise around some of the islands. We were snorkelling around them and everyone had to make woo-ing noises through our snorkels to try and get them to play with us. It was bloody brilliant! We were lucky because if there are babies in the pod you can't swim with them, but we had a play with 10-15 teenagers. Sweet as (my new favourite phrase).

It's my birthday tomorrow (cue messages on message board hint hint) and we start making our way south on our tour. It's meant to be an awesome day, visiting beaches, kayaking and barbecue in the evening.

We'll try and write soon and get the photos up.

lots of love

mikey & jo xxxxx