The flight here is the longest of my travels and it was actually fairly painless. Got moved from my original seat cos my tv screen wasnt working and ended up with more legroom and a spare seat next to me. Even though i didnt sleep - i never can on planes- the 12 hours went by kind of quick. I finally got to see the 2nd half of tropic thunder after my whole pizza-left-in-the-oven debacle back in glasgow. Its really not as good as it should have been is it?

The hostel here's fine and i've taken to cooking my own meals to cut down on spending. Last nights Cous-cous 'stew' was a highlight! The mainstays of my diet though are toast and muesli. Toast is served 5 slices at a time with a ridiculous amount of butter and museli is eaten in vast vats with both yoghurt and milk. I get the feeling i am getting some strange looks sometimes as i emerge from the eating area with bits of museli all over my bright pink face (sunburnt, see below) and butter down my t shirt!

Auckland's ok, not as bad as most people had informed me but not really a world class city. The harbour though is fantastic. There's over a hundred islands in it and yesterday i got a ferry out to one, Rangitoto. Its a dormant volcano thats only 600 years old. The whole island is made up of rugged black volcanic rock. I walked up to the summit and the views were incredible (the photos dont really do it justice.) Completely knackered myself doin it though cos i walked up at warp speed to make sure i was the first person up there. I also managed to get completely skepled and i'm now covered in sunburn. Looked a right picture walking back in to the hostel drenched in sweat, limping (foot still sore) and practically fluorescent red!

Get on the kiwi experience bus tomorrow whch will take me round the rest of New Zealand and my adventures (read-drunkenness and stupidity) can really begin!