Well I arrived safe and sound after 30 hours of travelling. I walked out the airport and found the bus into the city. I met two guys who had arrived on their own and we chatted on the 20 min journey into the centre. Then I got off the bus, met a girl called Sarah who was staying in my hostel and we both checked in and arranged to meet in an hour.

Sarah was travelling on her own and had flown in from the northern territories in Australia. We went for Mexican for tea (almost as nice as mine and Besty's fajitas) and then went for a few drinks. We seemed to wander around for quite a while and sometimes in circles! But we found an Irish bar and sat and had a couple of beers. It's about £4.50/5 a bottle but as I was told by Jane...don't compare just enjoy! At Father Teds (the Irish bar) we met a few guys staying at our hostel. Both called Rick (easy to remember) and one was from Grimsby and one from Gainsborough, small world they didn't know each other before they were in the same room!

We then went for a dance in the bar next to our hostel and eventually got to bed about 1.30am. There were a couple of other random meetings of guys in the middle and a strange Irish man trying to kiss me on the lips, swift move by me meant he avoided my lips and hit my cheek and then I made a quick exit! But all in all it was nice meeting so many people and a good first night!

The next day I went for a wander down by the harbour and there was a huge ferry docked and just laid watching the boats go by. One in four people have a boat in New Zealand so it was nice relaxing and watching the boats. The sea air must have got to me as went back to the room and slept pretty much all afternoon and evening.

Should have said earlier I was sharing a hostel with 5 other girls, few left during my three days but they weren't that chatty so was pleased to be jumping on my bus on Monday. On Sunday there was a huge Christmas parade through the Main Street of Auckland. I sat for a hour or so waiting for it to start but it was so warm ( I got a little sunburnt, one thing about travelling on your own is you don't have anyone to put sun cream on your back) but the parade was awesome. Massive balloons and floats, bands and dancers, it was so weird seeing Santa on his sleigh in 26 degree heat!

So that was me back to pack ready to be up and on my journey at 8.30am Monday morning to hot water beach.