Welcome to the New Zealand section of my blog. Part one over (South America)...part two (New Zealand) begins.....

We arrived in Auckland after our 13 hour flight and we had missed one whole day due to the time difference so we were a bit jet lagged and as it was 5am, we were a bit worse for wear. We arrived at our hostel but there wasn't a soul in sight so no way we could check in. the weather wasnt too great so didnt fancy waiting around until 8am when the office opened so in the distance we spotted those yellow arches and decided that we should head that way as McDonalds is always open.

Not knowing where we were going, we just followed the lights from the big 'M', until we came across a railway track. it looked like it wasnt in use anymore so we figured it would be safe to cross over it. it was safe, until a big dirty dog started barking at us once we were on the other side. Not so safe. At the other side of the track, we saw the McDonalds and one of their hot chocolates was screaming out to us but uno problemo. there was a big fence infront of us and the exit was padlocked up! And we were in flip flops. So we decided to walk a little bit down the track to see if there was somewhere else we could get out...but then we saw a train so had to do a James Bond style jump off the track and shout to Jade behind me to move out of the way (very dramatic). So our only option was to climb the fence, backpacks and all. I went first, (I'd put on my trek trainers to save my flip flopped feet from any injury) and made it over fine. Jade passed all the bags over and then she went. But at the top, her pants got stuck to the fence and as she jumped down....one big whole in the bum. Oh well, we made it to our hot chocolate and everything else was fine. We didnt get deported like Jade said we might if we got caught.

Everything else in Auckland was quite tame compared to that. Nice city though with some fairly decent shopping etc. We stayed there for a couple of nights until we started our journey through the rest of the country on the Kiwi Experience bus which basically drops you off and picks you up at various places scattered around the country. (the big green bus. also known as other names but i wont be telling what those are as my mother will not appreciate it wondering exactly what i am getting up to - absolutely nothing by the way mother) So.... day one we went to a place called Mercury bay (pictures will come soon) and we had a few hours on the beach. the next day we went to Rotorua where we got to experience some of the culture and went to a Maori concert. (Maori people are New Zealand natives). Then we went to a small place called Waitomo for the night, all very calm and relaxed, and then we went to Taupo to do some activities. Some people did sky dives etc. Me and Jade did a 'Rock and Ropes' course where you are harnessed up and have to climb high beams etc (all on the photos that i will upload soon) so will explain itself. Then we had a toga fancy dress party which i think we should have won best dressed prize for but instead some rather large girl won (they were probably jealous of our outfits, which for a bed sheet looked rather good i thought). oh well. lots of alcohol was drunk and we had a togarific time (had to do that).

The next night was Halloween and so yet again, more alcohol and another fancy dress outfit. we decided to go as the New Zealand All Blacks rugby players so we bought shirts and painted them with our own numbers, names on etc (see photos). Lots of fun but after two nights on the bad stuff, things go very blurry and im quite sure that I lost another day somewhere along the line coz I could swear its monday today when its actually sunday but who knows. Somewhere in the world its monday.

We are off to a quaint little place called River Valley next which is literally in the middle of nowhere so that should be interesting. Will update again soon but hasnt been too much happening so sorry if this blog has set a few Zzzzz's going.

Lots of love as always xxxxx