Damn my health! Full on flu gave me a second wretched nights sleep, or lack of. Most frustrating. Anyway John, one of the hosts kindly gave me a lift into the nearby town of Rotorua so I could arrange my bus for thursday, I then spent the rest of the day in Napier, including seeing my first Kiwi, which was bigger than I thought it would be, am tempted to bring one home for Ginger and Hattie. While the art deco buildings in Napier are pretty, because the locals...

Well, after a difficult nights' sleep feeling like death warmed up, feel a bit better today as I set out on a road trip with Craig - roughly a four hour drive to my next stop - a men's retreat near Napier which is a town with lots of beautiful art deco apparently - rebuilt following a severe earthquake in the 1930's. After a road trip kindly supplied by a local kiwi, I have arrived at this lovely retreat to find I am the only one staying! Three days of R and R ...

Jeff and Dean have made me feel very welcome in their home, as has Kelvin, their cute ginger cat. Last night I met some of their friends as well as bumping into an guy from Tel Aviv who I had chatted to earlier on the ferry. Wellington has a charming small town feel to it, boardering on clicky so the locals tell me. We ended the evening by visiting a sauna that had been converted into a nightclub which was an unusual experience! In an example of the famous Ki...

After saying goodbye to Bella who faithfully spent the night with me in return for me discovering where her food was kept, A day of travelling today, first a coach from Nelson to Picton and then a 3 hour ferry to the North Island. Locals have told me it can be a choppy crossing so should be interesting. As it turns out the crossing was smooth, Wellington is windy and hilly, looking forward to going out tonight with my hosts who seem really friendly. Have also...

After a lovely chat with the family I am staying with, and a stroke of their sea fairing, long haired Persian cat, Bella, I had a look round Nelson which is kind of like a glamorous version of Canvey Island. Lots of bungalows and charity shops and even an oil refinery. The lush greenery and beautiful lakes here set it apart though. My aching credit card can at last breathe a sigh of relief as its much cheaper here than in oz (some retail therapy in Auckland meth...