So on Andrews Birthday on 20th Jan we headed off from Nadi to the Mamanuca Islands. We chose 'Mana' Island as it had a backpackers accomodation option and so was more affordable! We got the wee speed boat from the beach across the hour ride to mana Island where we had a great Fiji welcome - signing from the locals to welcome us onto the island and a welcoming drink and local flower for our hair haha! Was a really lovely way to be welcomed. On the boat ride ov...

So...after a long few months Andrew and I finally met up in Fiji! :) Andrew had flown out from bangkok and I had flown from New Zealand. Andrew had arrived a few hours before me in Nadi, Fiji on 10th Jan so he had gone and found us a hotel etc. He met me at the airport in Fiji when my flight landed later that afternoon, of course immigartion and baggage collection felt like it took forever!! We had no working simcards or anything so had arranged if he wasnt at t...

The bus from Franz Josef to Nelson took from 09.15am to 6pm. But the driver was great and along the way he stopped and we got to see 'pancake rocks' which were fab. I arrived in Nelson after the long bus ride and checked into 'shortbread cottage' - probably the cutest and most homely hostel of my trip so far! A proper little house with just a few beds and a lovely living room...plus homemade shortbread on your pillow! So cute!! Matt's mum and dad (New Zealand Em...

So on Thursday 5th Jan (after a night stop over in Queenstown where I tried the infamous Ferburgers - was okay but I was a little diappointed after al; the hype!!) I got the bus to Franz Josef - home of the large famous glacier!! The bus took 6.5 hours and we stopped at Lake Wanake on the way which was beautiful. I was booked into 'Montrose Backpackers'. Franz is a very small town literally with a few shops and bars...but a pretty wee place. The hostel was okay,...

So I left Queenstown early on Mon 2nd Jan, 7am for the 2.5 hour bus ride to Te Anau where you base yourself to visit the famous Milford Sounds. I had pre booked 'Bob and Maxines' hostel which was a georgeous wooden buidling right out in the countrym with fields of sheep etc around it- felt very like home! Thankfully they did pick up from the bus as it was quite a distance from the centre of Te Anau! The monday afternoon I took one of theor free bikes from the ho...