Hello everyone!

Sorry I have been a bit slack but have been writing my journal on my laptop which has now decided not to switch on, so I have for the time being lost everything!! Not good. I went away last week on the magic bus which is a tour bus with commentary plus regular stops at places of interest, which is a very easy way to travel.

 Day 1 Wellington-Nelson

I was getting on the bus in Nelson so I left Wellington last Saturday morning and got the interislander ferry across the Cook strait through the Marlborough Sound to Picton. The moment we left Weliington harbour I was surrounded by blue sky and clear seas!! The scenery was just spectacular, so I spent most of the journey on the top deck which was a bit gusty but very much worth it. I arrived in Picton and got the bus to Nelson. It took us through the sunny Marlborough region famous for its vineyards. I got to Nelson later that afternoon and found my hostel which was lovely.  I had alwasy imagined hostels to be a bit run down and grotty. On the contrary, in NZ, because they rely so heavily on backpackers the hostels are of a very high standard and are very cheap (approx 7 quid a night!). I explored Nelson and met some people who would be leaving on the same 3 day tour bus to Queestown in the morning. We sampled some of the local pinot noir and had a little dance to an 80's tribute band that evening before getting a relatively early night.  I got back to my dorm to find 3 japanese girls who were very excited to see my jumper which had the japanese symbols for peace across the front! They then proceeded to take photos and down and up load stuff on their laptops till the early hours!!