The way my bus worked meant that to go to the North Island I would have to go through Christchurch, Kaikora and Picton again to get a ferry to Wellington. Researching online, I realised it was cheaper (and quicker) to fly to Wellington from Christchurch. I therefore revisited Christchurch for a final few days.

I had seen most of the things I wanted to see first time around so had not planned to do much. I met up with Meg whom I had met on my first night there and we decided to go up on a gondola similar to the one in Queenstown, to see Christchurch from above. It made you appreciate how close Christchurch was to the sea and how flat it sits in the valley.

The price of the ticket also included a musuem called the Journey Through Time. We sat in automated carts, similar to ones you go in at the Jorvik Viking Centre. I expected to be entertained, as we travelled through how Christchurch came to be. I have never been so disappointed. It was rubbish and I was glad I had not paid for it -well directly paid to go in it anyway. It was only 5 minutes long and narrated by the most annoying girl who looked like she had had botox. One minute we were looking at volcanoes, then a forest, whizzed past the history of the Maori's and then on to the settlers. I came out none the wiser and greatly bemused that I would never get those few minutes of my life back! Luckily the view made up for it.

So that was the end of the South Island. A stunning place, filled with the most outstanding scenary you can imagine. It tested my fears and I believe I have come out stronger for it. I have read that the whole world can be experienced in New Zealand. The South Island has provided so much, that it will be interesting to see what the North brings.