Got back on the Stray bus to start heading down the west coast with our new driver Veno. Our first stop was Abel Tasman National Park and we stayed at a place called Old Macdonald's Farm. The next day we got a water taxi up to Anchorage Bay and from there we did a 4hour walk (or tramp as they call it here) back to Marahau. Abel Tasman was really beautiful- one of the best walks we have done, saw gorgeous sandy beaches with turquoise water and lots kayakers, that ...

We're back! Our last update was about working in Blenheim and staying at a place called Swampy's, we didn't particularly like it at first as we were working every day in the vineyards, getting up at 5.30pm and working for a dodgy boss. But then a week later the rain came... and the fun began! We found that Swampys did actually have a lot to do, and we amused ourselves by making up 'rainy day activities', and we made some good new friends. We did a few days of wor...

At the moment we are staying in a backpackers called Swampy's in a place called Spring Creek nr Blenheim. We are working in the Vineyards picking grapes etc which is not bad compared to our previous jobs! Spring Creek is literally in the middle of nowhere and very desolate, and the only way to get into the town is by Hitch-hiking!!! Its quite cheap here and everyone that stays here comes to work so most people are out during the day and relaxing on the night aft...

We drove down to Wellington after missing our chance to do the Tongariro crossing at the national park- we were really dissapointed as the weather was really bad and nooone was allowed up there. We got there in time for Thumper to drive us up Mt Victoria which had some beautiful views. Thumper organised a silly hat party that night with a prize for the best and worst. We made good use of toilet roll, bread buns, belts, playing cards and surgical gloves- bet your...

Back on the Stray bus again, we spent two days in Rotorua. We went to the hot geothermal areas and saw some BIG geysers (not geezers!) We saw NZ's largest the Pohutu (in the pic) and lots of bubbling mud pools. And yes the place does smell of rotten eggs! WE spent a day at Te Puia where we watched a traditional Maori welcome ceremony and saw the Haka dance being performed, it was really good. We saw the locals making flax weaves and wooden Maori carvings, we also...